From models to materials - addition polymers Flashcards
What is addition polymerisation?
Addition polymerisation is one of the most important addition reactions of alkenes which form the basis of the plastic industry.
It involves the reaction of monomers with C=C double bonds to create long chains of polymers.
What type of bonds are formed during addition polymerisation?
C-C single bonds are formed when the π-bond in each C=C bond breaks and the monomers link together.
This process results in the formation of long-chain molecules.
Define a polymer.
A polymer is a long-chain molecule that is made up of many repeating units.
Polymers are typically formed through polymerisation reactions.
What are monomers?
Monomers are small, reactive molecules that react together to form the polymer.
They must contain at least one C=C double bond for addition polymerisation.
How can a polymerisation reaction be represented?
A polymerisation reaction can be represented by a general formula or by using structural/displayed formulae.
Examples include poly(ethene) and poly(chloroethene).
What is the product of addition polymerisation?
Addition polymerisation gives only one product.
This is typical of addition reactions involving alkenes.
What is a repeat unit in polymer chemistry?
A repeat unit is the smallest group of atoms that when connected one after the other make up the polymer chain.
It is represented by square brackets in the displayed and general formula.
How is the repeat unit represented in poly(alkenes)?
In poly(alkenes), the repeating unit is the same as the monomer except that the C=C double bond is changed to a C-C single bond.
This applies to polymers like poly(ethene) and PVC.
