Polymers

Alkenes can be used to make polymers. Polymers are big long molecules of single units called monomers. Molecules containing carbon-carbon double bonds can be joined together. Part of the double bond is broken and used to join to other monomers. Joining up lots of monomers to make a polymer is called addition polymerisation.

How to Draw a Polymer

It’s like drawing a hydrocarbon, except the ends are left blank (so it can join more).

As for the repeating unit (which is the unit that keeps repeating itself), you show the alkene (or the monomer) with its double bond opened up. You then enclose it with brackets and put an ‘n’ to its right.

Polymers to Know