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EdExcel GCSE Chemistry > Polymers - Topic 9 > Flashcards

Polymers - Topic 9 Flashcards

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1
Q

Polymer:

A

a substance of high average relative molecular mass made up of small repeating units (monomers)

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2
Q

Polymerisation:

A
  • the joining up of many small molecules (called monomers) to form extremely long chains (called polymers)
  • the repeat unit has the same atoms as the monomer because no other molecule is formed in the reaction
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3
Q

General equation for polymerisation:

A

n M → —————M-M-M-M-M-M——————-

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4
Q

What is the addition polymer formed called?

A

polythene

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5
Q

Change in structure from alkene to poly(alkene):

A

all atoms coming off carbon must be vertical to C

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6
Q

How can other addition polymers be made?

A

by combing together other monomer molecules containing C=C to include ply(propene), poly(chloroethene), (PVC) and poly(tetrafluoroethene)

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7
Q

Properties of poly(ethene):

A
  • flexible
  • cheap
  • electrical insulator
  • inert/unreactive
  • waterproof/weatherproof
  • light
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8
Q

Uses of poly(ethene):

A
  • plastic bags and bottles
  • coating on electrical wires
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9
Q

Properties of poly(propene):

A
  • flexible
  • strong
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10
Q

Uses of poly(propene):

A
  • buckets
  • crates
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11
Q

Properties of poly(chloroethene)/PVC:

A
  • tough
  • cheap
  • long lasting/durable
  • good insulator
  • waterproof/weatherproof
  • inert/unreactive
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12
Q

Uses of poly(chloroethene)/PVC:

A
  • window frames
  • gutters
  • water pipes
  • insulation for electrical wires
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13
Q

Properties of PTFE:

A
  • slippery
  • non stick
  • tough
  • high mp/high resistance
  • inert/unreactive
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14
Q

Uses of PTFE:

A

non-stick coating on pans

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15
Q

Problems with polymers:

A
  • availability of starting materials
  • persistence in landfill sites, due to non-biodegradability
    • don’t break down in the environment via natural processes
    • end up with a build-up of non-disposable plastics
    • fill up/new landfill sites needed
    • harmful to animal habitats
  • toxic gases produced during disposal by combustion/burning
    • HCl acid/gas produced from burning of PVC
    • CO2 released contributing to global warming
    • CO released
    • toxic ash/solids formed
  • requirement to sort polymers so that they can be melted and reformed into a new product
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16
Q

Advantages of recycling polymers:

A
  • don’t need to make as many new polymers - saves crude oil, conserving finite resources
  • reusing waste materials is better for the environment than burning them (as won’t release toxic emissions) or putting them in landfills (as they are non-biodegradable)
  • more economically viable instead of making more polymers
17
Q

Disadvantages of recycling polymers:

A
  • difficult and expensive to first separate the different polymers - need to be sorted into types which is time-consuming
  • transport to collection area/recycling point uses fuel
  • slow process
  • degrading - each time you recycle a plastic you degrade some of its qualities
  • collection point may cause litter/eyesore
18
Q

What is DNA and what is it made from/of?

A

DNA is a polymer made from 4 different monomers called nucleotides

19
Q

What is starch and is it made up of?

A

starch is a polymer based on sugars

20
Q

What are proteins and what are they made up of?

A

proteins are polymers based on amino acids

21
Q

Why are polyesters condensation polymers?

A
  • In condensation polymerisation, a small molecule is formed as a by-product each time a bond is formed between two monomers
  • Alcohol and carboxylic acid functional groups react, losing a small molecule – water
  • This is an ester – therefore a polyester is a lot of these monomers (esters)
22
Q

Condensation polymers:

A
  • polymers formed from condensation reactions between monomers
  • a small molecules (often water) is produced as well as the polymer
23
Q

What must each monomer unit have to make condensation polymers?

A
  • each monomer unit must have 2 functional groups that can react with the other monomer
  • in the process of reaction a 2nd molecule e.g. water, is eliminated
24
Q

2 main types of condensation polymers:

A
  • polyesters
  • polyamides
25
Q

How are esters formed?

A
  • esters formed on reaction between carboxylic acids and alcohols with the loss of a water molecule - esterification
  • in a condensation reaction the 2 molecules join a produced a larger molecule whilst eliminating a small molecule
  • during esterification this small molecule is water
26
Q

Properties of esters:

A
  • characteristic smells - often used in perfumes
  • insoluble in water
27
Q

Ester link:

A

the functional group -COO

28
Q

How is a polyester formed when a monomer molecule containing 2 carboxylic acid groups is reacted with a monomer molecule containing 2 alcohol groups?

A
  • the dicarboxylic acid loses the OH group off of each COOH group
  • the di-alcohol loses the H off of each OH group
  • the remaining molecules join together to make a polyester (the alcohol group combines with a carboxylic acid group) and an ester link is formed
  • a water molecule is eliminated
  • so basically if a dicarboxylic acid reacts with a diol, a polymer called a polyester is formed and water is released
29
Q

How is a molecule of water formed each time an ester link is formed?

A

the OH and H groups combine to make H2O

30
Q

What type of polymer is DNA?

A

condensation polymer

31
Q

Peptide bond formation:

A
32
Q

Protein/polypeptide:

A
33
Q

How is polymer formed from an alkene?

A
  • double carbon bond is broken
  • many monomers link together to form a long chain
34
Q

Do polymers of alkenes decolorise bromine water?

A

no - polymers do not decolorise bromine water

EdExcel GCSE Chemistry (29 decks)

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