nitrile gloves are made from a synthetic polymer that exhibits rubber like characteristics when vulcanized. The polymer is made in the form of a latex or emulsion and can be used or processed very much like natural rubber latex. There are some differences which make this polymer unique. Unlike natural rubber which is polyisoprene, the backbone of the nitrile polymer is composed of three ingredients or monomers ("mono" meaning one and "mer" meaning unit), namely acrylonitrile, butadiene and a carboxylic acid. The term "terpolymer" is sometimes used to describe a combination of the three different monomers. The word "polymer" implies by contrast, "many units " put together in unique ways to form a large molecule.