Common Misconceptions

⚠️ Common Misconceptions

Misconception 1: "All polymers are plastics"

Many natural materials are also polymers. Starch, cellulose, proteins, and DNA are all natural polymers made by condensation polymerisation. Hair, skin, muscle, and wood are all primarily polymers. "Plastic" is a term for synthetic polymers that can be moulded — it is a subset of all polymers, not the whole category.

Misconception 2: "All polymers can be recycled by melting"

Only thermosoftening polymers can be recycled by melting and remoulding (e.g., PET bottles, poly(ethene) bags). Thermosetting polymers have covalent cross-links between chains that do not break when heated — instead they char and decompose. This is why some plastics (like Bakelite and epoxy resins) cannot be recycled by conventional methods.

Misconception 3: "Addition polymerisation releases water"

Addition polymerisation releases no by-product — the only product is the polymer chain itself. It is condensation polymerisation that releases a small molecule (usually water). A common exam error is confusing these two types. Remember: Addition = one product only; Condensation = polymer + small molecule.