Additions Polymers & Polymerisation

• What type of polymers are made using alkenes?

  Addition polymers
• What feature characterizes a molecule as 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 do three ethene molecules combine to form a polymer?

  By opening their double bonds to bond together
• How can we represent the reaction of addition polymerization visually?

  • Show all monomers on the left
  • Draw the entire polymer on the right
  • Use a single monomer and repeating unit for simplicity
• What is a repeating unit in a polymer?

  A group of atoms repeated throughout the polymer
• How should the bonds of the monomer be drawn in polymer equations?

  Facing up and down, not at angles
• How should the empty bonds of the repeating unit be drawn?

  Pointing out to the left and right
• What does the variable 'n' represent in polymer equations?

  The number of repeating units
• If 'n' is 10, how many ethene molecules are involved?

  10 ethene molecules
• What is the first step in writing an equation for the addition polymerization of butane?

  Redraw butane in the correct format
• What must be identified first when drawing butane for polymerization?

  The double bond between the first two carbons
• How should hydrogen atoms be arranged when drawing butane?

  Pointing straight up or down
• How is a large group of atoms simplified when drawing butane?

  By counting carbons and hydrogens in shorthand
• What is the shorthand for a group with two carbons and five hydrogens?

  C$_2$H$_5$
• How should the bond between carbons be drawn in butane?

  From carbon to carbon, not to H$_5$
• What is the format for writing the reaction arrow in polymer equations?

  Draw the reaction arrow between sides
• How is the repeating unit represented in polymer equations?

  With the double bond removed
• How is the polymer named from its monomer?

  By adding "poly" before the monomer's name
• What is the name of the polymer made from butane?

  Polybutane
• What is the name of the polymer made from ethene?

  Polyethylene
• What is the name of the polymer made from chloroethene?

  Polychloroethylene
• What conditions are required for addition polymerization reactions?

  High pressures and a catalyst
• Where might pressure and catalyst be noted in a reaction?

  On the reaction arrow
• What are the steps to draw the addition polymerization of butane?

  1. Identify the double bond in butane
  2. Rearrange hydrogen atoms to point straight
  3. Simplify large groups into shorthand
  4. Draw the reaction arrow
  5. Remove the double bond in the repeating unit
  6. Add "poly" before the monomer's name