Which is NOT a synthetic polymer?

Step 1: Analyze the question We need the option that is NOT a synthetic (man-made) polymer, which means it must be a natural polymer.

Step 2: Concept

• Synthetic polymers are made in factories from monomers obtained mostly from petroleum, e.g. nylon, polyethene, PVC, polystyrene, Perspex, Orlon, Terylene.
• Natural polymers are made by plants and animals, e.g. wool, silk (proteins), cotton, cellulose, starch, rubber latex.

Step 3: Check each option

• A. Nylon: a synthetic polyamide, made from a diamine and a dicarboxylic acid. Synthetic.
• B. Orion: this is most likely a misspelling of Orlon (polyacrylonitrile), a synthetic acrylic fibre. Synthetic.
• C. Perspex: poly(methyl methacrylate), a synthetic plastic. Synthetic.
• D. Polystyrene: made by addition polymerization of styrene. Synthetic.
• E. Wool: a natural protein fibre from sheep, made of amino acids joined by peptide bonds. Natural, not synthetic.

Step 4: Answer Wool is the only natural polymer in the list, so it is the one that is NOT synthetic.

Tip: Remember natural polymers with the phrase "We See Cool Starch Rubber": Wool, Silk, Cotton/Cellulose, Starch, Rubber. Anything from an animal or plant is natural. Names ending in "-on" or "-lon" (nylon, Orlon, Dacron) or "-ene" plastics are usually synthetic.