BRAINCAKEIdentifying the Monomer
Given a section of an addition polymer, or its repeat unit, you can work backwards to find the monomer.
In an addition polymer the main chain is made only of carbon atoms, and each monomer supplies two of them (the two carbons that were joined by the C=C). So:
1. Pick out the repeat unit: two carbon atoms of the main chain together with the atoms and groups attached to them.
2. Remove the two bonds that extend out to the rest of the chain (the bonds through the brackets).
3. Put a double bond between the two carbon atoms.
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Key terms in this lesson
- repeat unit
- The smallest recurring group of atoms in a polymer chain, obtained from the monomer by opening its double bond.
More in Alkenes
- Electrophilic Addition Mechanism
- Electrophilic Addition of Hydrogen Halides
- Unsymmetrical Molecules
- Addition Polymerisation
- Identifying the Repeating Group
- Polymer Waste
- Recycling
- Incineration
All 19 lessons in Alkenes · All Edexcel AS-level Chemistry topics