Self test 2.1B

[chemstudent_1K]

Part B of self test 2.1B asks to give the molecular formula for polytetrafluoroethylene. The solution shows a structure of polytetrafluoroethylene where the two carbons are attached by a single bond. If the polytetrafluoroethylene ends in ene why aren't the carbons attached by a double bond (despite leading to their inablility to form anymore bonds since a double bond will give the two carbons an octet)?

[Chem_Mod]

In simple polymer naming, poly- is placed in front of the monomer name. The monomer used to make PTFE is tetrafluoroethylene (C2F4, with a double bond), but the reaction that makes the polymer breaks this double bond and forms single bonds between monomers. Even though the polymer has no double bonds, the name is derived from the monomer name which is why it is still called polytetrafluoroethylene.