Which statement correctly identifies the monomer used to make polytetrafluoroethene?

Which statement correctly identifies the monomer used to make polytetrafluoroethene?

• A. Tetrafluoroethene
• B. Ethene
• C. Propene
• D. Butene

Answer: (A)

Polymers formed by addition polymerization come from monomers that have a carbon–carbon double bond, which opens up to link many units together. Polytetrafluoroethene is made by polymerizing tetrafluoroethene, whose structure is CF2=CF2. When it polymerizes, the double bond opens and the repeating unit becomes -CF2-CF2-, building the PTFE chain with fluorinated carbons along the backbone. The other choices would lead to different polymers: ethene would give polyethylene, propene would give polypropene, and butene would give polybutene.

Polymers formed by addition polymerization come from monomers that have a carbon–carbon double bond, which opens up to link many units together. Polytetrafluoroethene is made by polymerizing tetrafluoroethene, whose structure is CF2=CF2. When it polymerizes, the double bond opens and the repeating unit becomes -CF2-CF2-, building the PTFE chain with fluorinated carbons along the backbone. The other choices would lead to different polymers: ethene would give polyethylene, propene would give polypropene, and butene would give polybutene.