ABSTRACT
This chapter considers mainly molecular properties that can be deduced from measurements of solution properties. As molecular properties are mainly determined on solutions, a discussion of measuring methods should be preceded by a short review on solubility and on the quite different behavior of polymer solutions, compared to that of solutions of low molecular weight solutes. The determination of the molecular structure of copolymers is more complicated than that of "homopolymers" as new parameters are involved. The chapter presents a survey of methods that are frequently encountered for structure determination and characterization of polymers, with special emphasis on size and shape of their molecules. In a sample of a synthetic or a natural polymer material, there is usually only a very poor chance of finding two molecules of equal molecular weight. At equilibrium, all the permeable solute molecules are evenly distributed over the two chambers and their concentration gradient over the membrane is zero.
