Making polymers

Question 1

Recall the two elements chemically combined in a

hydrocarbon:

Answer 1

carbon and hydrogen

Question 2

what are polymers?

Answer 2

large molecules made when many monomers (small molecules) join together

Question 3

what are alkenes and alkanes?

Answer 3

hydrocarbons

Question 4

how is a hydrocarbon compound formed?

Answer 4

formed between carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms only

Question 5

what are alkanes?

Answer 5

hydrocarbons which contain a double covalent bond(s) between carbon atoms

Question 6

what does a double bond contain?

Answer 6

2 shared pairs of electrons

Question 7

Describe how the reaction with bromine can be used

to test for an alkene:

Answer 7

• bromine water is orange

• bromine water is decolourised.

Question 8

Describe addition polymerisation

Answer 8

a process in which many alkene monomer molecules react together to give a polymer which requires high
pressure and a catalyst.

Question 9

Describe a saturated compound

Answer 9

contains only single covalent bonds between carbon

atoms.

Question 10

Describe an unsaturated compound

Answer 10

contains at least one double covalent bond between

carbon atoms.

Question 11

what is needed to force monomers to join together?

Answer 11

high pressure and a catalyst

Question 12

properties of polymers with weak intermolecular forces?

Answer 12

low melting point
stretched easily (as chains can slide)

Question 13

properties of polymers with strong intermolecular forces?

Answer 13

high melting point
cannot be stretched,
rigid (as chains can’t slide)