What is a monomer?

A monomer is one of the small repeating units that join together to form a larger molecule, known as a polymer.

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What is a polymer?

A polymer is a larger molecule formed from lots of smaller molecules (monomers).

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What is polymerisation?

Polymerisation is the process by which lots of small molecules (monomers) join together to form a larger molecule (a polymer).

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What 2 conditions are usually necessary for polymerisation?

  1. High pressure.
  2. Presence of a catalyst.

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What are addition polymers formed from? 

Addition polymers are formed from unsaturated monomers (monomers with double bonds), like alkenes.

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How do you name polymers?

Place the name of the monomer in brackets and put the phrase 'poly' in front of it.


For example, the polymer of ethene would be 'poly(ethene)'. 

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What would the polymer of chloropentene be called? 

Poly(chloropentene).

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How do addition polymers form? 

The carbon-carbon double bonds within the monomers break, and allow the two monomer molecules to bond to each other.

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