Astudent writes the following explanation of how one type of compound is formed.

these compounds are made by the repeated joining of one smaller unit to the end of a growing chain. the units are generally alkenes, which retain all their atoms in the chain. a compound which undergoes a similar process is polyethylene.

which process is being described?

Polymerization process(Addition)

Explanation:

Polymerization : The process in which small units called monomers combine to produce large mass compound is called polymerization reaction.These large masses are also called macromolecules.

The formation of polymers can occur by addition or condensation process .

Addition : In addition reaction small units add to previous units

Condensation : In condensation , a small molecule like water , carbon dioxide get eliminated when the unit attach to previous unit.

Some natural polymers are Proteins , carbohydrates , lipids , cellulose.

Polythene = addition polymerisation also known as Chain growth polymerisation.

This occur in three steps:

1. Chain Initiation : The start of the reaction occurs with the radical. These are generated from some organic peroxide and have general representation:

2 . Chain Growth = When the small units goes on adding to the previous units , Chain length increases and this is called chain growth.

3. Chain Termination = The chain continues to grow more and more until not forced to stop. This termination of chain growth is called chain termination