AQA · Chemistry · 8462
GCSE Chemistry (AQA): Addition Polymers
Topic 7 — Organic Chemistry. Generated from the caption track of Cognito's lesson video "GCSE Chemistry - Addition Polymers & Polymerisation (2026/27 exams)"; each card deep-links to the moment in the video it came from. Lesson 7.1 of Cognito's AQA GCSE Chemistry (Triple) course (Higher tier), filed under AQA Chemistry 8462. Teaching by Cognito — https://cognitoedu.org/coursesubtopic/c2-gcse-aqa-h-t_7.1.
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In a polymerisation equation, what does the letter n represent?
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The number of monomer molecules reacting, and therefore the number of repeating units in the polymer.
How do you name an addition polymer from its monomer?
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Put 'poly' in front of the monomer's name and place that name in brackets, e.g. ethene → poly(ethene).
How is a repeating unit drawn differently from its monomer?
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The double bond is removed and the carbons' bonds extend out to the left and right through the brackets.
What structural feature makes a molecule an alkene?
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A carbon–carbon double bond (C=C).
Which two conditions are needed for addition polymerisation?
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High pressure and a catalyst.
Alkenes are described as ? because they contain a C=C double bond.
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unsaturated
In a drawn repeating unit, the n is written at the ? just outside the brackets.
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bottom right
What happens to the C=C double bond during addition polymerisation?
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It breaks to become a single bond, freeing each carbon to form a new bond with another monomer.
How many carbon and hydrogen atoms are in the repeating unit of poly(ethene)?
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Two carbons and four hydrogens (C2H4) — the same as the ethene monomer.
In polymerisation, what is a monomer?
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The small molecule (e.g. ethene) that joins with many others to form a long polymer chain.
What is the repeating unit of a polymer?
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The group of atoms repeated throughout the polymer chain; it contains exactly the same atoms as the monomer.
What is the polymer made from chloroethene called?
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Poly(chloroethene).
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