Addition Polymers & Polymerisation

• What type of polymers are made using alkenes?

  Addition polymers
• What feature characterizes an alkene?

  Presence of a carbon-carbon double bond
• Why are alkenes considered unsaturated?

  They contain a carbon-carbon double bond
• What happens to the double bond in alkenes under the right conditions?

  It can break to form new bonds
• How can three ethene molecules combine to form a polymer?

  By opening their double bonds to bond together
• What is a monomer in the context of polymerization?

  A single molecule that forms a polymer
• What is a repeating unit in a polymer?

  The group of atoms repeated in the polymer
• How should the bonds of the monomer be drawn?

  Facing up and down
• What do the empty bonds in the repeating unit represent?

  Bonds that extend through the brackets
• What does 'n' represent in polymerization equations?

  The number of repeating units
• How would you represent the addition polymerization of butane?

  By drawing butane with brackets and 'n'
• What is the significance of the reaction arrow in polymerization equations?

  It indicates the reaction process
• How do you name a polymer formed from butane?

  Polybutane
• What is the name of the polymer formed from chloroethene?

  Polychloroethylene
• What conditions are required for addition polymerization reactions?

  High pressures and a catalyst
• Why might pressure and catalyst be noted on the reaction arrow?

  To indicate necessary conditions for the reaction