Which statement describes polymer bonding?

• A. Ionic bonds are the primary bond in polymers
• B. Metallic bonds are the main bonding in polymers
• C. Covalent & secondary bonds
• D. Hydrogen bonds only

Answer: (C)

Polymers are held together by covalent bonds along the backbone, giving the long chain its strength, while the interactions between chains are secondary bonds such as van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds. Some polymers also form covalent crosslinks between chains, creating a network. This combination—strong covalent bonds along the chain plus weaker secondary bonds between chains—best explains how polymers are bonded and how their properties arise. The other options mischaracterize typical polymer bonding, which is not dominated by ionic or metallic bonds and is not limited to hydrogen bonds alone.