plastics

• polymers are large chains of molecules made by joining together a large number of smaller molecules called monomers
• the process of reacting monomers to make polymers is called polymerisation
• the monomers needed for polymerisation are derived from crude oil
• alkenes are commonly used as feedstocks for making polymers such as poly(ethene) and poly(propene)
• addition polymerisation is when monomers are added to form a polymer chain
• the monomers for addition polymerisation must be unsaturated