Polymers Flashcards
Define polymer
A polymer is a substance made from very large molecules made up of many repeating units
What are polymers made up of
Polymers are made up of many small reactive molecules that bond to each other to form long chains
What do the small reactive molecules form
Polymers are made up of many small reactive molecules that bond to each other to FORM long chains
State the simplest example of a polymer
poly(ethene) is simplest example of a polymer
What are the atoms in a polymer joined together bby
The atoms in a polymer are joined together by covalent bonds
When drawing a polymer what do you draw
When drawing a polymer, instead of drawing out a whole long polymer molecule (which can contain thousands or even millions of atoms), dray the shortest repeating section, called the repeating unit
What is a repeating unit
A repeating unit is the shortest repeating section of a polymer
Define monomer
Monomers are small reactive molecules that react together in repeating sequences to form a very larger molecule (a polymer)
Monomers are often ________ molecules
Monomers are often alkene molecules
Give an example of an alkene molecule
Ethene is an example of an alkene molecule
Describe one of the features of bonding in a monomer
The monomer has a double carbon to carbon covalent bond
Describe one of the features of bonding in a polymer
The polymer contians single carbon to carbon covalent bonds
Suggest the problems with drawing polymers
A problem with drawing polymers is that there are lots of atoms and covalent bonds to draw
Draw the repeating unit of the polymer, poly(ethene)
The bit in brackets is the repeating unit
In the molecular formula of the polymer, what does ‘n’ represent and what does it show
In the molecular formula of a polymer, ‘n’ represents a large number.
It shows that the polymer contains a very large number of repeating units joined together
What type of bonding does a repeating unit show
A repeating unit shows a single, carbon to carbon covalent bond.
Why does the covalent bond on either side of the repeating unit, have to extend outside the brackets
This tells us that the polymer molecule extends out in both directions
What do the bonds through the brackets of a repeating unit, join up to
The bonds through the brackets of a repeating unit join up to the next repeating unit.
State the molecular formula of the polymer, poly(ethene)
The molecular formula of poly(ethene) is:
(C2H4)n - 2, 4 and n are subscript.
State the properties of polymers
Most polymers are solids at room temperature.
Explain why most polymers are solids at room temperature1
Most polymers are solids at room temperature.
This is because the intermolecular forces of attraction between polymer molecules are relatively strong so a large amount of energy is required to break these forces
Intermolecular forces are ___________ than ionic or ____________ bonds
Intermolecular forces are weaker than ionic or covalent bonds
Do polymers have higher boiling points than ionic or giant covalent structures
The intermolecular forces are still weaker than ionic or covalent bonds, so polymers generally have lower boiling points than ionic or giant molecular compounds
How could compounds made of simple molecules conduct electricity
Compounds made of simple molecules can conduct electricity if they react with the water to form aqueous ions, as acid molecules do
