Monomer

Key Stage 4

Meaning

A monomer is as small molecule that can bond with other molecules to form a polymer.

About Monomers

Different monomers are used to produce different polymers.

Foundation

There are some monomers that you may know:

• Ethene - This monomer comes together in an Addition Polymerisation to form the polymer; Polythene.
• Propene - This monomer comes together in an Addition Polymerisation to form the polymer; Polypropene.
• TetraFluoroEthene - This monomer comes together in an Addition Polymerisation to form the polymer; PolyTetraFluoroEthene.
• Glucose - This monomer forms the polymers; Starch and Glycogen.
• Amino Acids - This monomer forms the polymers known as Proteins.
• Nucleotides - This monomer forms the polymer; DNA.

Higher

• Glucose - This monomer comes together in a Condensation Polymerisation to form the polymers; Starch and Glycogen.
• Amino Acids - This monomer comes together in a Condensation Polymerisation to form the polymers known as Proteins.
• Nucleotides - This monomer comes together in a Condensation Polymerisation to form the polymer; DNA.

Examples

Monomers that produce Natural Polymers

Glucose	Amino Acid	Nucleotide

Monomers that produce Synthetic Polymers

Ethene	Propene	Tetrafluoroethene