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Chemistry > Polymers > Flashcards

Polymers Flashcards

1
Q

Alkanes

A

Saturated, fully bonded, no polarity, low reactivity, single bonds, stable, CnH2n+2

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2
Q

Alkenes

A

Unsaturated, double bonds, likely to bond and join with other monomers by opening the double bonds up, no methene, CnH2n

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3
Q

Isomer

A

Different forms of the same formula/chemical

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4
Q

Polymer

A

Made of many monomers joined together. It is a substance of high average molecular mass made up of small repeating units

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5
Q

Addition polymerisation

A

When small molecules join together with other molecules by opening up their double bonds

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6
Q

Poly(ethene)

A

Flexible, cheap, good insulators, stretchy, light. Used for plastic bottles, plastic bags, cling film, laminating paper

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7
Q

Poly(propene)

A

Flexible, tough. Used for buckets, bowls, crates, thermal underwear, ropes and carpets

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8
Q

Poly(chloroethene)

A

Can be made flexible or hard, tough, resistant to wear. Used for window frames, clothing, gutters and pipes

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9
Q

Poly(tetrafluroethene)

A

Tough, slippery, flame resistant, unreactive. Used for no-stick frying pans and stain coating

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10
Q

Properties of plastics

A

Non biodegradable, easy to colour, waterproof, strong, malleable, thermal and electrical insulator, non toxic

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11
Q

Why is it good to recycle

A

It is non-biodegradable, occupies too much space in landfills, releases toxic products and gases when combusted/incinerated (carbon dioxide, water, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, helps conserve resources, but it is expensive and difficult

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12
Q

Depolymerisation

A

The process of converting a polymer into a monomer or a mixture of monomers

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13
Q

Natural organic polymers

A

DNA - nucleotides
Protein - amino acids
Starch - glucose

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14
Q

Cornstarch polymers

A

Biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Made from vegetables high in starch such as potatoes, corn and maize. Used to replace oil based thermoplastics in packaging

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15
Q

Paper foam

A

Biodegradable, scratch resistant and mouldable. Made from starch based fibres and paper fibres. Used for shaped inserts for packaging

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16
Q

Potatopak

A

Can be composted, biodegradable. Made from potato starch. Used for biodegradable disposable trays, plates, bowls, cups and containers. Used for pig food or worm food when composted

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17
Q

Condensation polymerisation

A

Where water is eliminated

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18
Q

Esterification

A

Makes esters

19
Q

Functional group

A

Atom or group of atoms responsible for the properties and reactions of an organic compound

20
Q

Functional group of polyesters

A

C=O-O (made by condensation reaction)

21
Q

Functional group of alcohols

A

-OH (hydroxyl)

CnH2+1OH

22
Q

Functional group of carboxylic acids

A

COOH (carboxyl) double bonded oxygen

CnH2n+1COOH

23
Q

Functional group of alkanes

A

Single bonds

24
Q

Functional group of alkenes

A

Double bonds

25
Q

Polyesters, what are they and how are they made?

A

Synthetic polymers made by condensation polymerisation which the smaller carboxylic acids and alcohol monomers join together to form a longer chain and water is eliminated. The reaction is sped up by using concentrated acids and heat

26
Q

Beer made from

A

Barley, hops

27
Q

Vodka made from

A

Potatoes

28
Q

Wine made from

A

Grapes

29
Q

Alcohol production

A

Sugar (carbohydrate) —-> (yeast) ethanol + carbon dioxide

30
Q

Purpose of sugar in fermentation. Why must it be a glucose solution?

A

Nutrients for the yeast. 100% glucose makes pure ethanol

31
Q

Purpose of airlock in fermentation

A

Must be anaerobic conditions for yeast to produce ethanol (they don’t produce lactic acid like humans)

32
Q

Purpose of controlled temperature in fermentation

A

Must be 25°C as that is the optimum temperature for catalytic conditions (yeast are enzymes)

33
Q

Alcohol reactions

A

Undergo complete combustion, can be oxidised to form carboxylic acids, react with metals to form hydrogen gas

34
Q

Production of polyesters

A

Carboxylic acid + alcohol —> (under acidic conditions) polymers + water

35
Q

Amide functional group

A

C=O-N-H

36
Q

Bromine water experiment with alkanes

A

Alkanes are saturated and have single bonds. This means that they have no/low polarity and can’t open their bonds to join with the bromine. Therefore, the orange bromine water stays orange when combined with alkanes

37
Q

Bromine water experiment with alkenes

A 
Alkenes are unsaturated and have double bonds. This means that they have polarity, are unstable and are reactive. Their double bonds open up to join with the bromine in order to be stable and so the bromine water turns from orange to colourless. 
     H  H
      |    |
H-C-C-H
      |    |
     Br Br
38
Q

What is electronegativity?

A

The tendency of an atom to attract a shared pair of electrons towards itself

39
Q

But-1ene

A

Count from carbon where the double bond is connected to (carbon on the left)

H      H   H  H
   \      |    |    |
    C=C–C–C–H
   /           |    |
H            H  H
40
Q

But-2ene

A 
H  H       H
       |    |         |
 H–C–C=C–C–H
       |         |    |
      H       H  H
41
Q

Formation of poly(ethene)

A

The double bonds between the two carbon atoms open up in ethene (monomer now repeating unit). Ethene molecules join together by connecting to these opened up bonds to form poly(ethene) with single bonds by addition polymerisation.
Many monomers -pressure and catalyst-> polymer

42
Q

How does the repeating unit differ from the monomer in poly(ethene)?

A

The monomer has double bonds whereas the repeating unit has single bonds that have already opened up and so more monomers are able to add on to make a polymer

43
Q

General equation for any addition polymerisation

A

W X W X
\ / | |
C=C —> –(—C-C—)– n
/ \ | |
Y Z Y Z
monomer repeating unit

44
Q

Naming polymers

A
  1. Name by counting the longest chain (MEPB), which is the one with the most carbons.
  2. Then give the functional group of this e.g. double bond means -ene or -anol
  3. Look for any side arms branching from it e.g. propyl and this goes before the forename

Chemistry (10 decks)

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