Addition polymers Flashcards
What are polymers?
Substances made by joining lots of small repeating units called monomers.
What type of bond do monomers that make up addition polymers have?
Double covalent bond
What is addition polymerization?
When lots of unsaturated monomer molecules can open up their carbon-carbon double bonds and join together to form polymer chains.
What does ethene turn into during addition polymerisation?
Poly (ethene)
How to get the formula of a polymer?
Put the formula of the monomer in brackets and a little ‘n’ after it.
How to draw the repeat unit for a polymer
1) Put a pair of brackets around it.
2) Remove the carbon-carbon double bond and put each bond on either side passing through the brackets.
3) Put a little ‘n’ after it.
4) Make the bonds straight
Why are polymers hard to get rid of?
They are inert - they don’t react easily. This is because the carbon-carbon double bonds are strong and not easily overcome.
How long do polymers take a biodegrade?
A very long time
What does burning them produce?
Toxic gases
