7. polymers

Question 1

positives and negatives of polymers

Answer 1

unreactive
+ lots of uses
- aren’t biodegradable, difficult to dispose of, environmental damage

Question 2

ways of getting rid of polymers
landfill/burying them
1. when is this used
2. why is there a need to reduce landfill

Answer 2

1. polymer is - difficult to separate from other waste, not in sufficient qualities to make seperation worth while, too difficult to technically recycle
2. amount of waste we generate becoming more of a problem

Question 3

ways of getting rid of polymers
reuse/recylce
1. why should we reuse as much plastic as possible
2. ways of reusing plastic

Answer 3

1. made from non-renewable oil fractions
2. recycle by melting and remoulding.
   cracked into monomers and use as organic feedstock to make more plastics/ other chemicals

Question 4

ways of getting rid of polymers
burning
1. how can heat be used
2. why does this need to be carefully controlled
3. what are waste gasses from combustion passed through and why

Answer 4

1. to generate electricity
2. reduce toxic gases e.g. polymers that contain chlorine produce HCl when burned
3. scrubbers. neutralise gases such as HCl by allowing to react with a base

Question 5

what can biodegradable polymers be made from

Answer 5

renewable raw materials such as starch or oil fractions such as hydrocarbon isoprene

Question 6

drawback of biodegradable polymers

Answer 6

more expensive than non-biodegradable equivalent

Question 7

before they compose biodegradable polymers need

Answer 7

right conditions e.g. moisture and oxygen

Question 8

because biodegradable polymers need certain conditions to decompose this means

Answer 8

cant always put them in a landfill
need a compost heap
need to collect and separate biodegradable polymers from non biodegradable ones

Question 9

e.g. of use of biodegradable polymer

Answer 9

plastic sheeting to protect plants from frost can be made from polyethene with starch grains embedded in it
in time starch broken down by microorganisms.
no need to collect/dispose of old sheeting

Question 10

photodegradable polymers decompose when exposed to

Answer 10

sunlight

Question 11

what can join up to form addition polymers

Answer 11

alkenes

Question 12

addition polymerisation is when

Answer 12

double bonds in alkenes open up and join together to make long chains called polymers

Question 13

to find the monomer used to make an addition polymer

Answer 13

take repeat unit and add double bond