Structure–Property Relationships of Small Organic Molecules as a Prelude to the Teaching of Polymer Science

Small organic molecules offer a rich opportunity to discuss the interplay of chemical structure with properties such as the melting point and phenomena such as glass formation and can form the basis of fundamental considerations of structure–property relationships in macromolecules. Of particular importance are thermal transitions, specifically melting points and glass transition temperatures, and each is discussed in the context of structure–property correlations. Connections are made to a few commercially important polymers and their thermal transitions.