Chemistry In Society #4: Plastics Flashcards
Monomer
Small molecules which can join together to produce a very large molecule
Polymer
A very large molecule which is formed by the joining together of many smaller units (monomers)
Polymerisation
The process by which a polymer is formed
What are many plastics made from?
The polymerisation of small molecules produced from fractional distillation
How do these small unsaturated molecules (monomers) join?
By the opening of the carbon to carbon double bond
What are the products of addition polymerisation?
Only plastics - NO OTHER PRODUCT IS FORMED
All addition polymers have what?
A backbone made up entirely of carbon atoms
What is the name of the addition polymer related to?
The name of the monomer
What is the repeated unit?
The shortest section of a polymer chain, which, if repeated, would give the complete polymer chain
What is the structure of the repeating unit closely related to?
That of the monomer from which the polymer is formed
Example : what would the polymer made from ethene be?
Poly(ethene)
Pitfalls when drawing polymers!
- remember open ends
- bond MUST be on carbon, eg C to CH3 the bond must be C not H
