Addition polymers Flashcards
polymer
large molecule formed from many identical smaller molecules/repeating units known as monomers
many monomers joined in a long chain
relative formula mass
the sum of the relative atomic masses of the atoms in a chemical formula
polymers have a high relative formula mass
repeating units
a part of a polymer that would make a complete polymer molecule if many of them were joined end to end
molecule
a collection of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds
monomer
small molecule that can join end to end with other monomers
single repeating organic molecules
addition polymer
large molecule formed in addition reactions between unsaturated monomer molecules/made by combining smaller molecules containing C=C bonds
addition reaction
type of reaction in which two substances react together to form one new substance
polymerisation (reaction) definition
reaction in which monomer molecules combine together to form larger polymer molecules
example of a polymerisation reaction
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
equations for polymerisation
- 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
What does the n represent?
how many of each repeating unit/molecule are formed relative to how many monomers take place in the reaction
How are extra carbons represented in addition polymers?
CH3 below another carbon means that it is connected to carbon, which is connected to three hydrogens
polymer name: ethene, propene, chloroethene, tetrafluoroethene
poly(ethene), poly(propene) etc.
common names for:
- poly(ethene)
- poly(propene)
- poly(chloroethene)
- poly(tetrafluoroethene)
- polythene
- polypropylene
- PVC
- PTFE
properties of polythene/poly(ethene)
flexible
cheap
good electrical insulator
can be made into thin films
properties of polypropylene/poly(propene)
flexible
shatterproof
high softening point
strong
properties of PVC
tough
cheap
long lasting
good electrical insulator
can be hard or flexible
properties of PTFE
tough
slipperly
resistant to corrosion
good electrical insulator
chemically unreactive
uses of polythene
plastic bags
plastic bottles
clingfilm
shampoo bottles
uses of polypropylene
buckets
bowls
crates
ropes
carpets
uses of PVC
window frames
gutters and pipes
insulation for electrical wires
uses of PTFE
non-stick coating for frying pans
containers for corrosive/laboratory substances
insulation for electrical wires
What do you have to remember when drawing a monomer from an addition polymer?
there is a double bond between two carbons and not just all single bonds
