This reference lists common polymers with their monomers, the type of polymerisation (addition or condensation) and their uses. Addition polymers such as polythene form from unsaturated monomers with a C=C bond.
A polymer is a very long molecule built by joining many small molecules called monomers, and the syllabus expects you to name common polymers, identify their monomers, and say how each is used. Most exam polymers form by addition from an unsaturated monomer with a C=C double bond, while some natural polymers form by condensation. This reference lists the polymers you meet in SPM Chemistry, arranged the way the DSKP presents them, so you can match a polymer to its monomer and its use.
Scope note
The table below holds the standard KSSM set of polymers for Form 5. It covers the synthetic addition polymers made from alkene-type monomers, together with common natural polymers. Learn the monomer, the type of polymerisation and a use for each, because a question often gives one and asks for the others.
Common polymers
| Polymer | Monomer | Type | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poly(ethene) / polythene | Ethene, C2H4 | Addition | Plastic bags, films, bottles |
| Poly(propene) | Propene, C3H6 | Addition | Ropes, crates, containers |
| Poly(chloroethene) / PVC | Chloroethene (vinyl chloride) | Addition | Pipes, cable insulation, raincoats |
| Poly(phenylethene) / polystyrene | Phenylethene (styrene) | Addition | Packaging, disposable cups |
| Poly(tetrafluoroethene) / PTFE | Tetrafluoroethene | Addition | Non-stick coatings |
| Natural rubber / poly(isoprene) | Isoprene | Addition (natural) | Tyres, gloves, elastic bands |
| Nylon | Diamine and dicarboxylic acid | Condensation | Clothing, ropes, parachutes |
| Terylene (polyester) | Diol and dicarboxylic acid | Condensation | Clothing, plastic bottles |
| Starch | Glucose | Condensation (natural) | Energy store in plants |
| Protein | Amino acids | Condensation (natural) | Structure and enzymes in living things |
How to use the table
Work between the three columns. Given a monomer with a C=C double bond, the polymer forms by addition and is named “poly(” plus the monomer name, so ethene gives poly(ethene). Given a polymer, you can name the monomer by looking for the repeating unit. For uses, connect the property to the application: polythene is flexible and waterproof, so it is used for bags; PVC is tough and can be rigid, so it is used for pipes. Natural rubber is elastic, which is why it is used for tyres, and its properties are improved by vulcanisation with sulfur.
Worked example
Give the monomer and the polymerisation type for PVC. PVC stands for poly(chloroethene), so the repeating unit comes from the monomer chloroethene, also called vinyl chloride, which has a C=C double bond. Because the monomer is unsaturated and no small molecule is lost, the polymerisation is addition. A typical use is water pipes, because PVC is tough, cheap and resistant to corrosion.
Natural versus synthetic polymers
The syllabus also asks you to compare natural and synthetic polymers. Natural polymers such as natural rubber, starch, protein and cellulose are made by living things, while synthetic polymers such as polythene, PVC and nylon are manufactured from products of petroleum. Synthetic polymers are cheap, strong and easily moulded, which is why they are so widely used, but most do not rot away and so create waste that is hard to dispose of. This is why recycling and the search for biodegradable plastics matter, and a question may ask you to weigh the usefulness of a synthetic polymer against its effect on the environment. Being able to give one advantage and one disadvantage, with a reason for each, is what a full answer needs.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Calling every polymerisation “addition”; nylon, terylene, starch and protein form by condensation.
- Naming the monomer of poly(ethene) as “polythene” instead of ethene.
- Forgetting that addition monomers must be unsaturated, with a C=C bond.
- Confusing natural rubber (an addition polymer of isoprene) with synthetic condensation polymers.
How we help
Our online one-to-one teachers link each polymer to its monomer, its polymerisation type and its use, so you can move confidently between them in a question. Lessons are in English, one to one, from RM50 per hour, with a paid one-hour trial. Because the Polymers chapter rewards clear connections rather than rote lists, learning this table well makes its structured questions in Paper 2 quick and secure.
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