Polymers

Question 1

Define polymer

Answer 1

A polymer is a substance made from very large molecules made up of many repeating units

Question 2

What are polymers made up of

Answer 2

Polymers are made up of many small reactive molecules that bond to each other to form long chains

Question 3

What do the small reactive molecules form

Answer 3

Polymers are made up of many small reactive molecules that bond to each other to FORM long chains

Question 4

State the simplest example of a polymer

Answer 4

poly(ethene) is simplest example of a polymer

Question 5

What are the atoms in a polymer joined together bby

Answer 5

The atoms in a polymer are joined together by covalent bonds

Question 6

When drawing a polymer what do you draw

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What is a repeating unit

Answer 7

A repeating unit is the shortest repeating section of a polymer

Question 8

Define monomer

Answer 8

Monomers are small reactive molecules that react together in repeating sequences to form a very larger molecule (a polymer)

Question 9

Monomers are often ________ molecules

Answer 9

Monomers are often alkene molecules

Question 10

Give an example of an alkene molecule

Answer 10

Ethene is an example of an alkene molecule

Question 11

Describe one of the features of bonding in a monomer

Answer 11

The monomer has a double carbon to carbon covalent bond

Question 12

Describe one of the features of bonding in a polymer

Answer 12

The polymer contians single carbon to carbon covalent bonds

Question 13

Suggest the problems with drawing polymers

Answer 13

A problem with drawing polymers is that there are lots of atoms and covalent bonds to draw

Question 14

Draw the repeating unit of the polymer, poly(ethene)

Answer 14

The bit in brackets is the repeating unit

Question 15

In the molecular formula of the polymer, what does ‘n’ represent and what does it show

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What type of bonding does a repeating unit show

Answer 16

A repeating unit shows a single, carbon to carbon covalent bond.

Question 17

Why does the covalent bond on either side of the repeating unit, have to extend outside the brackets

Answer 17

This tells us that the polymer molecule extends out in both directions

Question 18

What do the bonds through the brackets of a repeating unit, join up to

Answer 18

The bonds through the brackets of a repeating unit join up to the next repeating unit.

Question 19

State the molecular formula of the polymer, poly(ethene)

Answer 19

The molecular formula of poly(ethene) is:
(C2H4)n - 2, 4 and n are subscript.

Question 20

State the properties of polymers

Answer 20

Most polymers are solids at room temperature.

Question 21

Explain why most polymers are solids at room temperature1

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Intermolecular forces are ___________ than ionic or ____________ bonds

Answer 22

Intermolecular forces are weaker than ionic or covalent bonds

Question 23

Do polymers have higher boiling points than ionic or giant covalent structures

Answer 23

The intermolecular forces are still weaker than ionic or covalent bonds, so polymers generally have lower boiling points than ionic or giant molecular compounds

Question 24

How could compounds made of simple molecules conduct electricity

Answer 24

Compounds made of simple molecules can conduct electricity if they react with the water to form aqueous ions, as acid molecules do