Final answer:
Polymerization is a chemical process where monomers join together to form polymers. The most common types of polymerization reactions are addition polymerization and condensation polymerization. An example of addition polymerization is the synthesis of polyethylene from the monomer ethylene.
Step-by-step explanation:
Polymerization is a chemical process in which monomers, small molecules, combine to form polymers, large molecules comprised of repeating units. There are two types of polymerization reactions: addition polymerization and condensation polymerization. In addition polymerization, monomers join together to form a polymer while retaining all the atoms of the starting monomers. An example of addition polymerization is the synthesis of polyethylene from the monomer ethylene.