polymerisaationa

Polymerisation is a chemical process by which small molecules called monomers join together to form larger molecules called polymers. This joining typically occurs through a series of repeating chemical reactions. Polymers are essentially long chains of repeating monomer units.

There are two main types of polymerisation: addition polymerisation and condensation polymerisation. In addition polymerisation, monomers add to one another in such a way that the repeating unit has the same atoms as the original monomer. This process often involves the breaking of double or triple bonds within the monomer. Common examples include the formation of polyethylene from ethylene and polypropylene from propylene.

Condensation polymerisation, on the other hand, involves the reaction between monomers with the elimination of a small molecule, such as water or methanol. In this type of polymerisation, the repeating unit of the polymer contains fewer atoms than the original monomer. Examples include the formation of polyesters from diols and dicarboxylic acids, and polyamides (like nylon) from diamines and dicarboxylic acids.

Polymerisation is a fundamental process in chemistry and is responsible for the creation of many materials essential to modern life, including plastics, rubbers, and synthetic fibres. The specific properties of a polymer are determined by the type of monomer used, the length of the polymer chain, and the way the chains are arranged.