BRAINCAKEIdentifying the Monomer
You also need to work backwards: given a polymer or its repeating unit, find the monomer.
Method:
1. Identify the repeating unit. For an addition polymer it has two carbon atoms in the main chain.
2. The extension bonds on each side are removed.
3. Put a double bond (C=C) between the two main-chain carbons. Keep all the side groups where they are.
Worked example 1: the repeating unit –[CH2–CH(CH3)]–. Removing the extension bonds and adding a C=C between the two backbone carbons gives CH2=CHCH3, propene.
Sign in free to see the rest of this lesson, the R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps and the quiz
BrainCake is free. Make an account in seconds and pick up where this page stops.
Key terms in this lesson
- monomer
- A small molecule that can join with many others to form a polymer.
- polymer
- A long-chain molecule built from many repeating monomer units joined together.
More in Alkenes
- Reaction with COncnetrated Sulfuric Acid
- Asymmetrical Alkenes
- Reaction with Water
- Addition Polymers
- Identifying the Repeating Group
- Low and High Density Polythene
- Biodegradability
- Solutions to Plastic Pollution
All 23 lessons in Alkenes · All AQA AS-level Chemistry topics