The general requirement for a monomer to undergo addition polymerisation is that it must contain

  • A. at least two different functional groups
  • B. a benzene ring
  • C. a hydroxyl group
  • D. a carbon to carbon double bond

Explanation

The pi bond opens so that each unit can bond to the next with nothing eliminated, which is why ethene, propene, chloroethene and styrene all polymerise this way. Two different functional groups are what condensation polymerisation needs, as in the diamine and diacid of nylon. Checking for the double bond is the quickest way to classify an unfamiliar polymerisation.

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