Similarities:
* Both form long chains of repeating units: This is the defining characteristic of polymers.
* Both involve monomers: Monomers are the small molecules that combine to form the polymer chain.
Differences:
Condensation Polymerization:
* Monomers react to form a dimer, releasing a small molecule (like water or methanol): This is why it's called "condensation" - a molecule is condensed out of the reaction.
* The repeating unit in the polymer is different from the original monomers: The released molecule changes the chemical composition of the repeating unit.
* Examples: Polyester, nylon, polycarbonate.
Addition Polymerization:
* Monomers add directly to each other without releasing any molecules: The monomers simply join together to form a longer chain.
* The repeating unit in the polymer is the same as the original monomer: The chemical composition remains the same.
* Examples: Polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene.
In summary:
* Condensation polymerization involves the release of a small molecule, while addition polymerization does not.
* The repeating unit in a condensation polymer is different from the monomer, while the repeating unit in an addition polymer is the same as the monomer.
Although they have different mechanisms, both condensation and addition polymerization result in the formation of long polymer chains.
