CIE IGCSE Chemistry

Revision Notes

11.3.1 Polymers

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Polymers: The Basics

  • Polymers are large molecules built by linking 50 or more smaller molecules called monomers
  • Each repeat unit is connected to the adjacent units via covalent bonds
  • Some polymers contain just one type of unit
    • Examples include poly(ethene) and poly(chloroethene), commonly known as PVC
  • Others contain two or more different types of monomer units and which are called copolymers
    • Examples include nylon and biological proteins
  • Different linkages also exist, depending on the monomers and the type of polymerisation
    • Examples of linkages are covalent bonds, amide links and ester links

Polymers - Basic, IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

Diagram showing how lots of monomers bond together to form a polymer

  • Poly(ethene) is formed by the addition polymerisation of ethene monomers
  • Addition polymerisation involves the addition of many monomers to make a long chained polymer
  • In this case, many ethene monomers join together due to the carbon carbon double bond breaking 

11-3-1-making-polyethene

Poly(ethene) is formed by addition polymerisation using ethene monomers

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