B16 Polymers

Question 1

What is a polymer?

Answer 1

A polymer is a macromolecule formed by linking together 50 or more small molecules, known as monomers, usually in chains.

Question 2

Explain what happens during addition polymerisation.

Answer 2

This is when monomers containing a carbon-carbon double bond are linked together to form a polymer. The double bond is broken and the molecules bond to one another by single covalent bonds.
Only one product is formed and the monomers which make the polymer are all the same.

Question 3

Which of the following is not an addition polymer?
A. polystyrene
B. terylene
C. polyethene
D. polypropene

Answer 3

B. terylene

Question 4

Ethene is the monomer for ______.

Answer 4

Ethene is the monomer for polyethene.

Question 5

True or False: The monomer of starch is sucrose.

Answer 5

False. The monomer of starch is glucose.

Question 6

Give two examples of addition polymers and give one use of each.

Answer 6

Polystyrene: to make fast food containers
Polychloroethene: to make pipe fittings

Question 7

In a condensation polymerisation reaction,
A. the polymer has a different empirical formula to the monomer
B. one product is formed
C. the polymer is always formed from one type of monomer only
D. water is always produced

Answer 7

A. the poymer has a different empirical formula to the monomer

Question 8

The monomers for polyester are
A. a diacid and a diamine
B. a synthetic polyamide and an alcohol
C. a diacid and a dialcohol
D. galactose

Answer 8

C. a diacid and a dialcohol

Question 9

Nylon is a synthetic _________ and its monomers are __________ and ___________.

Answer 9

Nylon is a synthetic polyamide and its monomers are a diacid and a diamine.

Question 10

True or False: Natural polyamides are proteins and their monomers are amino acids.

Answer 10

True.

Question 11

Amide linkages are found in:
I proteins
II terylene
III nylon

A. I and II only
B. II only
C. I and III only
D. I, II and III

Answer 11

C. I and III only

Question 12

Explain what happens during condensation polymerisation.

Answer 12

Monomers are linked together in long chains by eliminating a small molecule from between adjacent monomer units. It always forms two products and the polymer is made from more than one different type of monomer.

Question 13

Give two condensation polymers and one use of each.

Answer 13

Nylon (polyamide): to make fishing line

Starch (polysaccharide): used to produce energy during respiration in living organisms.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT true about plastics?\

A. They are flammable.
B. They are easily biodegradable.
C. They are good insulators.
D. They are easily moulded.

Answer 14

B. They are easily biodegradable.