2.3.27

Diagnostic Misconceptions - Drawing Polymers

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Drawing Polymers

Polymers are made up of repeating units. Because of this, we can show their chemical structure as a unit that is repeated lots of times. You can show the unit is repeating using brackets.

Formation of polymers

  • Polymers form when carbon-carbon double bonds in alkenes break.
    • The carbon on each side of the carbon-carbon double bond forms new bonds to other carbon atoms in the same situation.
Illustrative background for Poly(ethene)Illustrative background for Poly(ethene) ?? "content

Poly(ethene)

  • Poly(ethene) is a chain of repeating ethane units.
    • Ethene has two carbon atoms.
    • The bonds going through the brackets shows the units are repeating.
Illustrative background for Poly(propene)Illustrative background for Poly(propene) ?? "content

Poly(propene)

  • Poly(propene) is a chain of repeating propane units.
    • Propene has three carbon atoms.
  • The propene unit bonds to other propene units at either side of the original alkene double bond.
    • Therefore, poly(propene) forms this structure.
Illustrative background for Poly(butene)Illustrative background for Poly(butene) ?? "content

Poly(butene)

  • Poly(butene) is a chain of repeating propane units.
    • Butene has three carbon atoms.
  • The butene unit bonds to other propane units at either side of the original alkene double bond.
    • Therefore, poly(butene) forms this structure.

Jump to other topics

1Atomic Structure

2Chemical Bonding

3Quantitative Chemistry

4Chemical Changes

5Energy Changes

6The Rate & Extent of Chemical Change

7Organic Chemistry

8Chemical Analysis

9Chemistry of the Atmosphere

10Using Resources

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