Term: ladder chain https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.L03440 Definition: A double-strand chain, consisting of an uninterrupted sequence of rings, with adjacent rings having two or more atoms in common. Alternatively, a ladder chain is a double-strand chain with adjacent constitutional units joined to each other through four atoms, two on one side and two on the other side of each constitutional units. Related Terms: 1) double-strand chain (<em>in polymers</em>) (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.D01849). 2) constitutional unit (<em>in polymers</em>) (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C01288). 3) sequence (<em>in polymers</em>) (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.ST06775). Source: PAC, 1996, 68, 2287. 'Glossary of basic terms in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 2295 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668122287) Citation: 'ladder chain' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.L03440 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.