What is a large molecule created by polymerization of monomers?

1 Answer
Jul 28, 2018

#"A polymer....?"#

Explanation:

And a polymer is made by clipping together a collection of monomers by some means. For example, ethylene, can be clipped together by a transition metal catalyst to give a long hydrocarbyl chain, i.e. polyethylene...

#n underbrace(H_2C=CH_2(g))_"ethylene monomer" stackrel("catalysis, MAO")rarr(-CH_2-CH_2-)_n#

Another typical monomer is propylene, #H_3C-CH=CH_2#, and given a special catalyst, its polymerization can give rise to polypropylenes with specific geometries to give very high value products.