Chapter 12 Alkenes, Alkynes, and

Aromatic Compounds
12.4
Polymers of Alkenes

General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

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Polymers
Polymers are
large, long-chain molecules
found in nature, including cellulose in plants,
starches in food, and proteins and DNA in the body
also made synthetically, such as polyethylene and
polystyrene, Teflon, and nylon
made up of small repeating units called monomers
made by reaction of small alkenes

General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

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Polymerization
In polymerization, small repeating units called
monomers join to form a long chain polymer.

General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Common Synthetic Polymers

General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

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Polymers from Addition Reactions

General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

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More Monomers and Polymers

General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Check
What is the starting monomer for polyethylene?

General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Solution
What is the starting monomer for polyethylene?
Ethene (ethylene), CH2CH2

General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Check
Name the monomer used to make Teflon, and use four
monomers to draw the condensed structural formula of
a portion of a Teflon polymer.

General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Solution
Name the monomer used to make Teflon, and use four
monomers to draw the condensed structural formula of a
portion of a Teflon polymer.

General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

10

Recycling Plastics
Recycling is simplified by using codes found on plastic
items.

General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

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11

Learning Check
What types of plastic are indicated by each of the
following codes?

A.

3
PVC

B.

5
PP

C.

6
PS

General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

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12

Solution
A.

3
PVC

Polyvinyl chloride

B.

5
PP

Polypropylene

C.

6
PS

Polystyrene

General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

13