BRAINCAKEIdentifying the Repeating Group
An addition polymer chain is built from one small section that repeats over and over: the repeating unit. For a polymer made from a single alkene monomer, the repeating unit contains just two main-chain carbon atoms, the two that were joined by the C=C in the monomer.
To draw the repeating unit from a monomer:
1. Draw the two C=C carbons in a row, with the other groups placed above and below them.
2. Change the C=C into a C–C single bond.
3. Add an extension bond on each side, drawn through square brackets, and write n after the brackets.
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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 Monomer
- Low and High Density Polythene
- Biodegradability
- Solutions to Plastic Pollution
All 23 lessons in Alkenes · All AQA AS-level Chemistry topics