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Global Challenges

Addition polymerisation

  • 2 things to know
  • Paper 4

Overview

What addition polymerisation, a monomer and a repeating unit are, the C=C double bond a monomer needs and what happens to it, why there is only one product, poly(ethene), poly(propene), poly(chloroethene) and poly(tetrafluoroethene), what n and the end bonds show in a polymer formula, and working out the monomer from a repeating unit.

What you need to know

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Key term

What is addition polymerisation?

Key term

Which functional group must a monomer contain if it is to take part in addition polymerisation?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is addition polymerisation?

    Model answer

    A reaction in which many small unsaturated molecules join together to form one long chain molecule, with no other product formed.

  2. 2

    Which functional group must a monomer contain if it is to take part in addition polymerisation?

    Model answer

    A carbon–carbon double bond, C=C.

  3. 3

    What is a monomer?

    Model answer

    A small molecule that joins to many others of its kind to build a polymer.

  4. 4

    What is meant by the repeating unit of a polymer?

    Model answer

    The short section of chain that is repeated over and over along the polymer, formed from one monomer molecule.

  5. 5

    What happens to the double bond of each monomer during addition polymerisation?

    Model answer

    It opens up, and the spare bonds are used to join the monomer to the molecules on either side of it.

  6. 6

    How many products are formed in an addition polymerisation reaction?

    Model answer

    Only one, the polymer itself.

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AThe products sit at a higher energy level than the reactants.
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CThe reactants, the products, the activation energy and the overall energy change.

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