5.2 Making Polymers from alkenes

Plastics are made from very large molecules called polymers. Made when very small molecules join together. Small molecules used to make polymers are called monomers. Reaction to make polymers in called polymerisation.

Lots of ethane(C2H4) molecules can join together to form poly(ethene), commonly called polythene. Polymerisation reaction in the double bond in e ach each ethane molecule becomes a single bond and thousands of ethene molecules join together in long chains.

Other Alkenes polymerise in the same way.

PLASTICS WE USE AS BAGS, BOTTLES, CONTAINERS AND TOYS ARE MADE FROM AKLENES