In this deck, we'll explore the fascinating world of polymers. Polymers are very large molecules that make up many of the materials we use every day, from plastic bags and water bottles to the fibres in our clothes. We'll learn how these long-chain molecules are made from smaller units called monomers, through processes called polymerisation.

The first type of polymerisation we will look at is called addition polymerisation. This process involves monomers that have a carbon-carbon double bond, which are a type of molecule called an alkene. During the reaction, the double bond in each monomer breaks, allowing them to join together to form one long chain. No other substance is produced, so the polymer is the only product.