Question

What is polymerization?

Answer 1

Polymerization

• The process of formation of polymers (large molecules) from respective monomers is called polymerization.
• The repeating structural units are obtained from some reactive and simple molecules known as monomers.

Example

• Tetrafluoroethene undergoes polymerization and forms a polymer that is Teflon. The reaction for the formation of Teflon is given below:-

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{n}{\mathrm{CF}}_2={\mathrm{CF}}_2\underset{\mathrm{high}\mathrm{pressure}}{\overset{\mathrm{catalyst}}{\to }}{\left[-{\mathrm{CF}}_2-{\mathrm{CF}}_2-\right]}_{\mathrm{n}} \\ \mathrm{Tetrafluoroethene}\mathrm{Teflon} \end{gathered}$$

• Here, the monomer is Tetrafluroethene.

Hence, the process of formation of Teflon from Tetrofluroethene is called polymerization.