What items are converted into polymers when they come in contact with an initiator and the proper energy source?

The correct answer is that monomers are the items that are converted into polymers when they come in contact with an initiator and the proper energy source. Monomers are simple molecules that can join together through a chemical reaction, typically in the presence of an initiator and energy such as heat or light, to form larger, more complex structures known as polymers. This process is fundamental in polymer chemistry and is the basis for creating many of the materials used in nail tech products, such as gels and acrylics.

While copolymers are made up of two different types of monomers, they are formed during the polymerization process rather than being the initial materials that undergo conversion. Oligomers consist of a few monomer units and do not represent the complete polymerization process. Liquid crystals, on the other hand, refer to a state of matter that has properties between those of liquids and solid crystals and are not directly related to the polymerization process described here. The focus on monomers as the foundational building blocks helps clarify the transformation that occurs during the polymerization process essential for nail technology.