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The Polymerisation of Ethene.

The double bond in an alkene (like ethene) can
be broken open and joined to other molecules
(see the chemistry of polymerisation).

A molecule of ethene can be joined to another molecule
of ethene. In the process, the second ethene molecule
has its double bond broken, and this may be added to
a third molecule of ethene, and so on. Many
ethene molecules can be joined together to form a polymer.
The polymer is called poly(ethene) because it is made
from ethene. This is an example of addition polymerisation.

Poly(ethene) is commonly called polythene.
Polythene is an ICI trademark for poly(ethene).

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