Q.Classify the following as addition and condensation polymers: Terylene, Bakelite, Polythene, Teflon.

Polymers are classified by mechanism as addition polymers (formed by repeated addition of monomer units possessing double/triple bonds, without loss of any atoms) or condensation polymers (formed by repeated condensation reactions between two bi- or poly-functional monomers, with elimination of small molecules like $H_2O$ or $NH_3$).

• Polythene — addition polymer of ethene ($CH_2=CH_2$); simple addition of the double bond, no by-product.
• Teflon — addition polymer of tetrafluoroethene ($CF_2=CF_2$); again, addition across the double bond. …

Check whether each polymer's monomer(s) have a reactive multiple bond that simply adds (addition polymer) or two functional groups that condense w …

• Assuming all polymers with 'complex' names (like Terylene) must be addition polymers.
• Forgetting that Bakelite involves loss of water at every linkage, which is the hallmark of condensat …