Learning objective

Identify monomers from addition polymer repeat units.

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Topic

Alkenes

Subtopic

Addition polymers

AQA A Level ChemistryOrganic chemistry

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Understand this objective

Short explanation

Addition polymers are formed from monomers that contain carbon-carbon double bonds (C=C). To identify the monomer from a given repeat unit of an addition polymer, observe the structure of the repeat unit. The repeat unit typically retains the backbone of the original monomer, with the double bond being converted into single bonds during polymerization. For example, if the repeat unit is -CH2-CH2-, the corresponding monomer is ethene (C2H4). This process highlights how the structure of the repeat unit directly reflects the structure of the monomer used in the polymerization.

Key concepts

MonomerRepeat unit

Why it matters

This objective helps connect Addition polymers to exam-style questions, flashcards, and revision notes for Alkenes.

Common mistakes

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Identifying Monomers from Repeat Units: To correctly identify the monomer from a repeat unit, first recognize the structure of the repeat unit, then determine the original alkene by removing the bonds that connect the repeat units and adjusting for any hydrogen atoms lost during polymerization. For example, if the repeat unit is -CH2-CH2-, the corresponding monomer is ethene (C2H4).

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