Polymers

• Polymers


  Very large molecules made by joining together thousands of small identical molecules called monomers
• Monomers


  Small identical molecules that polymers are made from, often alkenes
• Monomer


  • Ethene
• Forming a polymer


  Joining together thousands of monomer molecules
• Polymer structure


  • Contain single carbon-carbon covalent bonds, unlike monomers which have double bonds
  • Covalent bonds are extremely strong
• Repeating unit


  Shorthand way to represent the structure of a polymer, shows a single carbon-carbon bond and indicates the polymer extends in both directions
• The 'm' in the repeating unit represents a large number of repeating units
• Polymers


  • Most are solids at room temperature
  • This is because the intermolecular forces of attraction between polymer molecules are relatively strong, requiring a lot of energy to break
• Polymers have a high melting point due to the strong intermolecular forces