The Polymerisation of Ethene.
The double bond in an
alkene (like
ethene) can
be broken open and joined to
other molecules
(see the chemistry of polymerisation).
A molecule of ethene
can be joined to another molecule
of
ethene.
In the process, the second ethene
molecule
has its double bond
broken, and this may be added to
a
third molecule of ethene,
and so on.
Many
ethene molecules can
be joined together to form a
polymer.
The polymer is called poly(ethene) because
it is made
from ethene. This is an example of addition polymerisation.
Poly(ethene) is
commonly called polythene.
Polythene is an ICI trademark for poly(ethene).
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