Polymers are large molecules built by linking 50 or more smaller molecules called monomers
each repeat unit is connected to the adjacent units via covalent bonds
Some polymers contain just one type of unit
e.g. poly(ethene) and poly(chloroethene), commonly known as PVC
Copolymers - polymers containing two or more different types of monomer units
e.g. include nylon and biological proteins
Different linkages in polymers also exist, depending on the monomers and the type of polymerisation
e.g. covalent bonds, amide links and ester links
Formation of polymers
A) monomers
B) polymerization
C) polymer
Addition polymerisation involves the addition of many monomers to make a long chained polymer
Poly(ethene) is formed by the addition polymerisation of ethene monomers where many ethene monomers join together due to the carbon carbon double bond breaking
Addition polymerisation
A) ethene
B) polyethene
Long polymer molecules aren’t joined together
they have weak intermolecular forces between each other
Plastics are made up of polymers
Polymerization - small molecules like ethene join together to form polymers
Monomers - small singular molecules
Why are intermolecular forces stronger in polymers than small molecules?
