Question

How can you differentiate between addition and condensation polymerisation?

Answer 1

Addition polymerisation produces addition polymers through the addition of olefinic monomers without the formation of any by-product. In contrast, condensation polymerisation produces condensation polymers through the intermolecular condensation of two different monomers with the formation of small molecules such as HCl, water, ammonia, etc., as by-products. This is the main difference between addition polymerisation and condensation polymerisation. In addition to this main difference, there are many more differences between these two polymerisation reactions.