Addition polymers

Question 1

polymer

Answer 1

large molecule formed from many identical smaller molecules/repeating units known as monomers

many monomers joined in a long chain

Question 2

relative formula mass

Answer 2

the sum of the relative atomic masses of the atoms in a chemical formula

polymers have a high relative formula mass

Question 3

repeating units

Answer 3

a part of a polymer that would make a complete polymer molecule if many of them were joined end to end

Question 4

molecule

Answer 4

a collection of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds

Question 5

monomer

Answer 5

small molecule that can join end to end with other monomers

single repeating organic molecules

Question 6

addition polymer

Answer 6

large molecule formed in addition reactions between unsaturated monomer molecules/made by combining smaller molecules containing C=C bonds

Question 7

addition reaction

Answer 7

type of reaction in which two substances react together to form one new substance

Question 8

polymerisation (reaction) definition

Answer 8

reaction in which monomer molecules combine together to form larger polymer molecules

Question 9

example of a polymerisation reaction

Answer 9

ethene is combined together to form poly(ethene)

the C=C double bond breaks open to allow ethene molecules to join together to form a single product

Question 10

equations for polymerisation

Answer 10

• draw out the monomer
• write n to the left of it

-arrow

• the polymer is written inside brackets
• draw the structure of the monomer but use C-C instead of C=C
• anything connected to the C-Cs is shown above or below them, but not at the sides
• two bond lines cross the brackets on either side to show that it connects to other repeating units
• n is written outside the brackets on the left

Question 11

What does the n represent?

Answer 11

how many of each repeating unit/molecule are formed relative to how many monomers take place in the reaction

Question 12

How are extra carbons represented in addition polymers?

Answer 12

CH3 below another carbon means that it is connected to carbon, which is connected to three hydrogens

Question 13

polymer name: ethene, propene, chloroethene, tetrafluoroethene

Answer 13

poly(ethene), poly(propene) etc.

Question 14

common names for:

• poly(ethene)
• poly(propene)
• poly(chloroethene)
• poly(tetrafluoroethene)

Answer 14

• polythene
• polypropylene
• PVC
• PTFE

Question 15

properties of polythene/poly(ethene)

Answer 15

flexible

cheap

good electrical insulator

can be made into thin films

Question 16

properties of polypropylene/poly(propene)

Answer 16

flexible

shatterproof

high softening point

strong

Question 17

properties of PVC

Answer 17

tough

cheap

long lasting

good electrical insulator

can be hard or flexible

Question 18

properties of PTFE

Answer 18

tough

slipperly

resistant to corrosion

good electrical insulator

chemically unreactive

Question 19

uses of polythene

Answer 19

plastic bags

plastic bottles

clingfilm

shampoo bottles

Question 20

uses of polypropylene

Answer 20

buckets

bowls

crates

ropes

carpets

Question 21

uses of PVC

Answer 21

window frames

gutters and pipes

insulation for electrical wires

Question 22

uses of PTFE

Answer 22

non-stick coating for frying pans

containers for corrosive/laboratory substances

insulation for electrical wires

Question 23

What do you have to remember when drawing a monomer from an addition polymer?

Answer 23

there is a double bond between two carbons and not just all single bonds