Are alkanes or alkenes used in the production of polymers?

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Deonte Rowe

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1 Answer

Bethany E Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

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Alkenes can be used to produce addition polymers. This is because alkenes have a C=C double bond.

When the monomers are polymerised to produce the polymer chain, one of the bonds in the double bond is opened up and allow the monomer to react with the next one, forming a long chain of repeating units.

Alkanes can't be used for addition polymerisation as there is no C=C bond that can be used for polymerisation.

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