Polymers

• What are giant covalent substances made of?

  Many atoms joined together by covalent bonds
• Name three forms of carbon that are giant covalent structures.

  Diamond, graphite, and graphene
• What is a polymer?

  • A large molecule formed from many identical smaller molecules known as monomers
  • Composed of long chains of atoms
  • Example: Poly(ethene)
• What type of bond joins the atoms in a polymer molecule?

  Strong covalent bonds
• How are the atoms in a polymer molecule arranged?

  In long chains
• What is an example of a polymer mentioned in the material?

  Poly(ethene)
• What do the poly(ethene) molecules contain?

  Thousands of carbon atoms joined together in a chain
• What are intermolecular forces?

  Weak attractive forces between molecules
• What happens to intermolecular forces when a simple molecular substance melts or boils?

  The intermolecular forces are broken
• Why do polymers melt at higher temperatures than substances with small molecules?

  Because the intermolecular forces between polymer molecules are strong
• What state are polymers typically in at room temperature?

  Solids
• What is the significance of the variable number of atoms in the chains of a given polymer?

  It indicates the size and properties of the polymer
• How do the properties of polymers compare to those of small molecules?

  Polymers have stronger intermolecular forces and higher melting points