A polymer formed by linking two or more monomers where water is formed is called what?

A polymer formed by linking two or more monomers where water is formed is called what?

• A. Addition polymer
• B. Condensation polymer
• C. Copolymer
• D. Polymer chain

Answer: (B)

When monomers join and a small molecule is released, usually water, the process is condensation polymerization. The polymer formed in this way is called a condensation polymer. This happens because each linking step loses a water molecule, a kind of dehydration synthesis. Examples include polyesters and nylons, where diacid and diol or diamine and diacid units bond and water is expelled. In contrast, an addition polymer forms without releasing small molecules—monomers simply add to the growing chain, typically from unsaturated compounds. A copolymer just means the polymer is made from more than one type of monomer, and a polymer chain is just the long molecule itself, not specifying how it was formed.

When monomers join and a small molecule is released, usually water, the process is condensation polymerization. The polymer formed in this way is called a condensation polymer. This happens because each linking step loses a water molecule, a kind of dehydration synthesis. Examples include polyesters and nylons, where diacid and diol or diamine and diacid units bond and water is expelled.

In contrast, an addition polymer forms without releasing small molecules—monomers simply add to the growing chain, typically from unsaturated compounds. A copolymer just means the polymer is made from more than one type of monomer, and a polymer chain is just the long molecule itself, not specifying how it was formed.