Plastics And Polymers

Question 0

What molecules are plastic made out of and what are they?

Answer 0

Polymers

Long chain molecules made up of monomers

Question 1

Define cracking

Answer 1

Breaking down large hydrocarbons into smaller substances

Question 2

What is the process called when monomers are joined to make polymers?

Answer 2

Polymerisation

Question 3

What hydrocarbons are plastic made out of ?

Answer 3

Alkenes

Question 4

Where are alkenes from?

Answer 4

The naphtha or crude oil fractions of crude oil

Question 5

How do monomers make plastics?

Answer 5

By heating alkenes under pressure with a catalyst. This process is called cracking

Question 6

What do catalysts do?

Answer 6

Speed up reactions

Question 7

What are the 4 properties and uses of plastic?

Answer 7

Melts at a high temperature- hot water pipes
Rigid- guttering
Flexible- bin bags
Don’t absorb water- take away food trays

Question 8

What is the problem of disposing of waste plastic?

Answer 8

It isn’t biodegradable