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Organic Synthesis and Analysis

Addition and condensation polymerisation

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 2

Overview

Addition polymerisation, condensation polymerisation and essential difference between the two kinds of polymerisation.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Define addition polymerisation.

Key term

State the essential difference between addition and condensation polymerisation

Key term

What feature must a monomer have to undergo addition polymerisation?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define addition polymerisation.

    Model answer

    Addition polymerisation is the joining of many unsaturated monomer molecules into a long chain with no other product formed.

  2. 2

    Define condensation polymerisation.

    Model answer

    Condensation polymerisation is the joining of monomers into a long chain with the elimination of a small molecule, usually water or hydrogen chloride, at each link.

  3. 3

    State the essential difference between the two kinds of polymerisation.

    Model answer

    Addition polymerisation produces the polymer alone, while condensation polymerisation produces a small molecule alongside it at every link formed.

  4. 4

    What feature must a monomer have to undergo addition polymerisation?

    Model answer

    A carbon–carbon double bond, which opens to form the two new single bonds joining it into the chain.

  5. 5

    What feature must monomers have to undergo condensation polymerisation?

    Model answer

    Two reactive functional groups on each monomer, so that the chain can grow at both ends.

  6. 6

    How does the empirical formula of an addition polymer compare with that of its monomer?

    Model answer

    It is the same, because no atoms are lost when the monomer units join.

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