Question

Select all of the following that could serve as the monomer to make an addition polymer.

Select one or more:

a. C6H5CH=CH2

b. CH3CH3

c. HC≡CH

d. CH2=CHCl

Answer 1

In addition polymerization reactions there should be an group that have unsaturation like double or triple bonds. Unsaturation is important because the double bond dissociates into radicals, cations, and anions which get added to other unsaturated bonds and finally result polymer.

Radical/ cation / anion formation is generally done using electron accepting molecules like AlCl3(lewis acid) or sometimes can be done using heat and light. After initiation the gets added up by the action of radical formed in the first step to give long polymer.

In the termination step, workup is done and charged species is neutrilized. So, A,C and D have unsaturation and are suitable for addition polymerization.