Polymers

Question 1

What are polymers?

Answer 1

Very large molecules made when hundreds of monomers join together to form long chains

Question 2

What keeps the chain together?

Answer 2

The monomers are joined by covalent bonds, shown by sticks

Question 3

What are most polymers formed from?

Answer 3

Alkenes

Question 4

What should a polymer chain look like?

Answer 4

The carbons should all be connected in the middle, with hydrogens connected above and below each carbon. The two end carbons should have a stick facing outwards with nothing attached to it.

Question 5

What should a single monomer look like?

Answer 5

Two carbons should be connected, with hydrogens above and below each carbon. The carbons should have a stick facing outwards with nothing attached. The entire thing should be in brackets, with the outward facing sticks going through the brackets and a little ‘n’ should be outside the brackets.

Question 6

How do you draw monomer that has more than two carbons in it?

Answer 6

1. Draw the carbon atoms that were in the double bond
2. Draw the brackets and the ‘n’ outside
3. Add the bonds through the brackets
4. Add the atoms that were attached to the carbons

Question 7

What are the requirements for polymerisation?

Answer 7

Higher temperatures and pressure but there may also be a catalyst