14.3 Polymers Flashcards
What are polymers?
Polymers are large molecules built by linking 50 or more smaller molecules called monomers
What are the repeating units connected to each other by?
Each repeat unit is connected to the adjacent units via covalent bonds
What are homopolymers?
homopolymers contain just one type of unit
What are 2 examples of homopolymers?
polythene and polychloroethene, commonly known as PVC
What are copolymers?
Others contain two or more different types of monomer units and which are called copolymers
What are 2 examples of copolymers?
Examples include nylon and biological proteins
Do all polymers have the same linkages?
NO
Different linkages also exist, depending on the monomers and the type of polymerisation
What are 3 examples of linkages?
Examples of linkages are covalent bonds, amide links and ester links
What are examples of synthetic polymers?
Plastics, nylon and terylene
What type of polymer is nylon?
Nylon is a copolymer
How is nylon used?
used to produce clothing, fabrics, nets and ropes
What type of polymer is terylene?
Terylene is a polyester
What is terylene made from and what joins it together?
made from monomers which are joined together by ester links
How is terylene used?
Terylene is used extensively in the textile industry and is often mixed with cotton to produce clothing
What are 3 examples of plastics?
poly(e)thene
polypropene
polychloroethene
What is the repeating unit for polythene?
|~ H H ~| | | | | -- |---C--C---| -- | | | | |_ H H _| n
What is the repeating unit for polypropene?
|~ CH3 H ~| | | | | -- |---C-----C---| -- | | | | |_ H H _| n
What is the repeating unit for polychloroethene? PVC
|~ H Cl ~| | | | | -- |---C--C---| -- | | | | |_ H H _| n
What are uses of polythene?2
- plastic bags (low density polythene)
- plastic bottles (high density polythene)
What are uses of polypropene? 3
- food packaging
- ropes
- carpets
What are uses of polychloroethene? 4
- plastic sheets
- artificial leather
- drainpipes and gutters
- insulation on wires
What are non-biodegradable plastics?
These are plastics which do not degrade over time or take a very long time to degrade, and cause significant pollution problems
Where is plastic pollution the biggest problem?
In particular plastic waste has been spilling over into the seas and oceans
Why is it a problem when plastic gets into oceans?
it causes huge disruptions to marine life