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CHEM 121 Studioby Learn4Less · UBC CHEM 121

CHEM 121 glossary

Addition polymer

A polymer formed when monomers containing a C=C double bond join end to end as the π bond opens. No atoms are lost, so the repeat unit has the same formula as the monomer, and the backbone is made only of carbon atoms.

Propene: its C=C becomes the two backbone carbons of polypropylene.

Example

n CHX2=CH−CX6HX5⟶[ CHX2−CH(CX6HX5) ]nn\,\ce{CH2=CH-C6H5} \longrightarrow \left[\,\ce{CH2-CH(C6H5)}\,\right]_n: styrene gives polystyrene with no byproduct.