polymers

• What is a polymer?

  A substance of high average relative molecular mass made up of small repeating units.
• How are polymers made?

  By linking together lots of small molecules (monomers) to form a long chain.
• What is the name of the process in which ethene molecules join together to form a polymer?

  Addition polymerisation.
• How can ethene molecules undergo polymerisation to form the polymer poly(ethene)?


  One of the bonds in each C=C double bond breaks and forms a bond with an adjacent monomer, forming a long chain polymer.
• What is the displayed formula of the product formed from the addition polymerisation of ethene?

  • (C2H4)n-
• What is the name of the product formed from the addition polymerisation of ethene?

  Poly(ethene)
• Can chloroethene undergo addition polymerisation? If so, what is the product?

  Yes, the product is poly(chloroethene) or PVC.
• Can chloroethene undergo addition polymerisation?

  Yes, because it contains a C=C double bond.
• What is the product formed from the addition polymerisation of chloroethene?

  Poly(chloroethene) or PVC
• What is the name of the polymer formed from tetrafluoroethene?

  Poly(tetrafluoroethene) or PTFE
• What properties of poly(propene) make it suitable for making buckets and crates?

  • Flexible
  • Strong
• Why is poly(ethene) commonly used to make plastic bags, bottles, and coating of electrical wires?

  • Inexpensive
  • Electrical insulator
  • Flexible
• What is a common use of poly(chloroethane) and what properties make it suitable for this use?

  Used for window frames because it is tough, cheap, and has a long product life.
• What is a common use of poly(tetrafluoroethene) and what properties make it suitable for this use?

  Coating for non-stick pans because it is tough and non-stick.
• What are some problems associated with polymers?

  • Crude oil is a finite resource.
  • Not biodegradable, causing landfill and ocean pollution.
  • Produce CO2 if incinerated (and HCl if chlorine is present).
  • Production requires a lot of energy.
  • Recycling requires careful sorting, which is time-consuming.
• What are the advantages associated with recycling polymers?

  • Provides employment.
  • Less crude oil used.
  • Less energy used in recycling than in processing new materials.
  • Reduces landfill space and ocean pollution.
• What are the disadvantages associated with recycling polymers?

  • Labour-intensive and expensive to separate polymers.
  • Melting produces toxic gases harmful to animals and plants.
  • Polymers can only be recycled a limited number of times before losing properties.
• What is starch?

  A polymer based on sugars.
• In terms of polymers, what is DNA?

  A polymer made from four different monomers called nucleotides.
• What are proteins?

  Polymers based on amino acids.