4: Addition Polymers Flashcards
What is a polymer?
A long chain containing several monomers bonded together.
Addition polymers are made from which type of organic molecule?
Alkenes
What do brackets on an addition polymer show?
That the molecule contains a repeating unit.
What does the n on an addition polymer show?
The number of repeating units in a polymer.
What is a substituted alkene?
An alkene where one of the hydrogen atoms is substituted for another atom, such as chlorine.
Are polymers saturated or unsaturated?
Saturated.
Why are polymers unreactive?
They are usually non polar.
How does the length of the carbon chain affect the strength of IMFs between polymers?
The longer the carbon chain (with fewer branches), the stronger the IMFs between other polymer molecules.
Describe the properties of polymers with strong IMFs.
Rigid, hard
Why do straight unbranched polymers have bigger van der waals forces?
The polymer chains can pack closer together.
What is PVC made of?
Chloroethene monomers
Why is PVC hard and brittle?
Presence of a chlorine atom leads to creation of permanent dipole-dipole forces, which are a stronger type of IMF.
What is PVC used to make?
Drain pipes, window frames
What are the properties of PVC?
Hard and brittle
What are plasticisers?
Chemicals used to make polymers more flexible
