Topic 11 Flashcards
What are addition polymers
Relatively large molecules made by combing smaller molecules contains c- c bonds
-
A polymer is a substance :
Of high average relative molecular mass, Mr
Made up of small repeating units
Poly(ethene) is a polymers made by combining many
ethene molecules (monomers)
Properties of poly(ethene)
Flexible cheap good electrical insulator
Use - plastic bags plastic bottles and cling film
Properties of poly(propane)
Flexible shatterproof has a high softening point
Uses- buckets and bowls
Properties of poly(chloroethene)
PVC
Tough cheap long lasting good electrical insulator
Use - window frames gutters and pipes insulation for electrical wires
Properties of PTFE
poly(tetrafluoroethene)
Tough slippery resistant to corrosion good electrical insulator
Uses - non stick coatings for frying panda containers for corrosive substances and insulation for electric wires
What are polyesters
Condensation polymers rather than addition polymers
Two monomers
Polyesters need two different monomers
1- a molecule containing two carboxylic acid croutons
1- a molecule contains two alcohol groups
When does an Ester link form?
Each time two different monomers react together
One molecule of water forms each time an water link forms
Condensation polymerisation
When the two different monomers react together, producing a water molecule
The other molecule has a carboxylic acid group and an alcohol group
These groups can react with more monomers
This process continues producing a very long polyester molecule
What’s DNA
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
Found in nucleus of cells “double helix” structure
DNA is a polymer made from monomers called
Nucleotides
What are proteins
Polymers made from monomers called amino acids
Manufacture of polymers
Crude oil is the main raw material needed to make addition polymers and most condesnsatuon polymers. Crude oil is:
- a finite resource
- a non-renewable resource
- often imported by users - it’s supply and cost vary over time
Polymer problems
Non-biodegradability
Most artificial polymers are not biodegradable :
This is useful because objects made from polymers last a long time
This is a problem because objects made from polymers do not break down easily when they are disposed of:(
What does biodegradable mean
Materials eventually rot away:
Microbes feed on them
This breaks them down
Four ways to dispose of polymers
Landfill sites
Burning
Biodegradable polymers
Recycling
Landfill sites
:(
Polymers are not biodegradable
They last for many years
We are running out of landfill sites
Burning polymers
:(
Many polymers release toxic gases when they Burn
Biodegradable polymers
:)
These are being developed
They will not rot away in landfill sites
Recycling of polymers
:)
Melting and reforming into new objects
Breaking down into new raw materials