polymers

Question 1

what are polymers

Answer 1

very large organic molecule built up from small units (monomers)

Question 2

where can we find polymers

Answer 2

natural : dna, living things
synthetic (labs) :polyethene, nylon

Question 3

what is polymerisation

Answer 3

process of joining together a large number of small molecules to form a polymer

Question 4

what is addition polymerisation

Answer 4

unsaturated monomers join together by covalent bonds to form an addition polymer without losing any atoms

Question 5

how does addition of polymerisation work

Answer 5

carbon carbon double bonds of alkene molecules break, each monomer from single bonds with two other monomer, they join to form a giant molecule called polymer

Question 6

at what conditions must it be to ensure polymerisation takes place

Answer 6

high temperature and pressure, catalyst

Question 7

whaht are the uses of polyethene

Answer 7

make plastic toys, plastic bags, easily moulded into different shapes

Question 8

pros and cons of plastic bags

Answer 8

pros - cheap, durable, waterproof
cons - land and water polluiton (plastics are non-biodegradable, cannot be broken down by bacteria and other living organisms in soil)

cause : landfill built up waste
marine animals mistake plastics for food

air pollution (when plastics burn, poisonous gas released into atmosphere)

cause : hydrogen chloride

Question 9

how to recycle plastics

Answer 9

1. sort them out by different methods
2. wash to reduce contaminations
3. shred/grind into smaller piece
4. physical : melted, cooled, pulled into lon gthin strands, cut into pallets
5. chemical : cracking to break down lon chains of plastic waste

Question 10

benefits of recycling plastics

Answer 10

reduce carbon emissions, use less energy to produce from “new crude oil, less materials in landfills