CoachAn addition polymer forms by additions of monomers carrying a double bond, with no other product: its repeat unit has the same atoms as the monomer. A condensation polymer forms by reactions between two functional groups that join two monomers and release a small molecule, usually water, at each link.
| monomer | polymer | repeat unit | uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| ethene | polyethene (PE) | bags, bottles | |
| chloroethene | poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) | pipes, frames | |
| phenylethene | polystyrene (PS) | cups, foam | |
| tetrafluoroethene | PTFE | non-stick pans |