Simple Description

Materials made from crude oil, usually made of polymers.

Further Detail

Plastics are formed by the polymerisation of short chain hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon molecules are alkenes and contain a double bond which is then broken in order to enable the momoners to join together - this process is called addition polymerisation. For example, the monomer ethene can undergo addition polymerisation to form poly(ethene), more commonly called polythene.

Related Words:

• Monomer
• Polymer
• Addition polymerisation
• Hydrocarbon

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