Polymers

Question 1

Define polymers

Answer 1

Giant organic molecules made up of monomers
Light
Insulators
Weak

Question 2

Define polymerization

Answer 2

The act of joining monomers

Question 3

Describe ethelyne

Answer 3

Two carbons with an unsaturated double bond, in the presence of heat the double bond will break and each carbon will want to make a new friend
A chain of them forms polyethelyne

Question 4

Define homopolymer

Answer 4

A polymer with only one type of mer unit

Question 5

Define a copolymer

Answer 5

A polymer with differing mer units

Question 6

What are the four types of copolymers

Answer 6

Random
Alternating
Block
Graft

Question 7

What are the different molecular structures of polymers

Answer 7

Linear polymers (VanDerWaal bonds between chains, ex polyethelyne)
Branched polymers (less packable, formed by side reactions during formation of linear polymer)
CrossLinked Polymers (all covalent bonds, acheived by non-reversible reactions, ex vulcanization)
Network (strongest)

Question 8

Define functionality of monomers

Answer 8

The number of bonds it can make
Bifunctional makes two bonds:these form chains
Trifunctional makes three bonds:these form networks

Question 9

Define degree of polymerization

Answer 9

Number of mers per molecular chain

Question 10

Define isomerism

Answer 10

Same number of mers, different arrangement (isobutane)

Question 11

What are the different molecular configurations of copolymers

Answer 11

Head to head
Head to tail

Head to tail is more common because head to head repel each other

Question 12

Define geometric isomerism

Answer 12

When carbon is double bonded, there are two arrangements on either side of the bond,
a cis-structure has all the atoms above or below
a trans-structure has some atoms above, some below

Question 13

Describe thermoplastic polymers

Answer 13

Polymers that soften when heated and harden when cooled, due to the breaking and reforming of VanDerWaal bonds.
If temp gets high enough to break primary covalent bonds, permanent damage is done.

Question 14

Describe thermosetting polymers

Answer 14

Network and crosslinked polymers that don’t have bonds to break when heated.
If temp gets high enough to break primary covalent bonds, permanent damage is done, and polymer becomes softer.

Question 15

Are polymers crystalline, or isomorphous

Answer 15

Semicrystalline, because they can have areas of order, depending on their simplicity, and their cooling rate

Question 16

Where do polymer defects occur?

Answer 16

In the crystalline regions