Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry · Syllabus 0620 · Organic Chemistry
Addition Polymerisation
What is Addition Polymerisation?
The joining together of many unsaturated monomer molecules, in which each carbon-carbon double bond opens to form single bonds to neighbouring units, so that the polymer is the only product and no small molecule is released.
This definition is part of the Organic Chemistry chapter in Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry.
Common mistakes with Addition Polymerisation
- “All polymerisation reactions release water.” Supplement 11.8.9 why it fails This over-generalises from condensation polymers to every polymer. correct Addition polymerisation releases nothing at all — the polymer is the only product. Condensation polymerisation releases a small molecule, and you can only say which one by looking at the functional groups actually being joined. Taught in Lesson 11.8D.