Addition, Condensation and Natural Polymers
Monomers, repeating units, addition and condensation polymerisation, polymer structure and naturally occurring polymers including DNA and proteins.
How to study for GCSE Chemistry
Move between particle models, equations, calculations, observations and data; practise the specific required activities and paper structure named by your exam board.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Addition polymerisation joins many alkene monomers by opening their double bonds and forms only the polymer.
Exam cue: Locate the double bond or two functional groups before choosing the polymerisation mechanism.
Concept 2
Condensation polymerisation uses monomers with suitable functional groups and forms a polymer plus a small molecule.
Exam cue: Show bonds passing through the bracket and preserve substituent placement in repeating units.
Concept 3
DNA is a polymer of nucleotide monomers, while proteins and many carbohydrates are natural polymers based on amino acids or sugars.
Exam cue: Distinguish the monomer, repeating unit and complete macromolecule.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Leaving the carbon-carbon double bond in an addition-polymer repeat unit.
Guardrail: Do not rely on a memorised keyword alone: preserve charges, ratios, units and conditions, and keep single Chemistry separate from Combined Science.
Claiming addition polymerisation produces water.
Guardrail: Do not rely on a memorised keyword alone: preserve charges, ratios, units and conditions, and keep single Chemistry separate from Combined Science.
Calling every biological macromolecule an addition polymer.
Guardrail: Do not rely on a memorised keyword alone: preserve charges, ratios, units and conditions, and keep single Chemistry separate from Combined Science.
Memory anchors
Monomer
A small molecule able to join with many others to form a polymer.
Repeating unit
The structural section repeated along a polymer chain.
Addition polymerisation
Alkene double bonds open and monomers join without a small-molecule by-product.
Condensation polymerisation
Functional groups link while a small molecule is eliminated.
Natural polymers
DNA, proteins and many carbohydrates are polymers made by living systems.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
Ethene molecules link as their double bonds open. Which description names this polymerisation route?
What monomer makes poly(ethene)?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
What is Pass Harbor?
Completely free exam prep for 247 UK exams.
- Practice questions
- Flashcards
- Study guides
- Mock exams
- No registration
- No paywall
- Start instantly
“No more expensive exam prep. Quality study tools should be accessible to everyone.”