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Chemistry > Unit 4 - Lesson 14: Addition Polymers > Flashcards

Unit 4 - Lesson 14: Addition Polymers Flashcards

1
Q

What are polymers?

A

Large molecules made of repeating subunits.

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2
Q

Describe the molecular masses of polymers.

A

Polymers have large average relative molecular masses (on average they are very large molecules).

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3
Q

Polymers are large molecules made of repeating subunits. What are these subunits called?

A

Monomers.

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4
Q

What is joining monomers to make a polymer called?

A

Polymerisation.

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5
Q

What does poly mean?

A

‘Many’

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6
Q

What does polymer mean?

A

‘Many monomers’

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7
Q

What is polymerisation?

A

Joining monomers to make a polymer.

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8
Q

What are the two types of polymer?

A
  1. Addition polymers
  2. Condensation polymers
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9
Q

What is the homologous series of addition polymers? Does this make them saturated or unsaturated?

A

Addition polymers are always alkenes, therefore they are unsaturated.

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10
Q

What is the process of bonding alkenes to make an addition polymer called?

A

Addition polymerisation.

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11
Q

What is addition polymerisation?

A

The process of bonding alkenes to make an addition polymer. Addition polymerisation means monomers are added together with no extra molecules made.

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12
Q

What three things are needed for addition polymerisation to occur?

A

High temperatures, pressures, and an initiator.

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13
Q

What is an initiator?

A

An initiator is like a catalyst but is used up in the reaction.

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14
Q

The ends of polymer chains remain ‘unfinished’. What are the unfinished lines?

A

Continuation bonds.

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a2/a5/d2/a2a5d25bfbbb1eb0887b742758056c63.jpg

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15
Q

Draw the addition polymerisation of ethene. Include labels.

a) What does the ‘n’ in this diagram represent?
b) What is the polymer called?
c) Is ethene an alkene or alkane? Saturated or unsaturated?
d) Is poly(ethene) an alkene or alkane? Does it turn bromine water colourless or not?

A

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/d9/59/4c/d9594c6cb4338d7ebc7d9967bfa493e7.jpg

a) The ‘n’ represents the number of subunits.
b) The polymer in this example is called poly(ethene).
c) Ethene is an alkene. It’s unsaturated.
d) Poly(ethene) is an alkane. It doesn’t turn bromine water colourless.

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16
Q

What does the polymerisation of propene make?

A

Poly(propene), which used to be called polypropylene.

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17
Q

Draw the addition polymerisation of propene.

a) Why have you drawn propene with CH3?
b) Why are the ends of the polymer chains ‘unfinished’?

A

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b9/99/4f/b9994f4db4b062f4cacf45d12dcc72bb.jpg

a) This makes it easier to draw in long chains.
b) Those unfinished lines are continuation bonds. You must include them. Parts of the initiator are here.

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18
Q

Draw the addition polymerisation of chloroethene (ethene with 1 hydrogen replaced by Chlorine).

a) What is the polymer called?

A

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/d0/ca/ef/d0caefe51a14888feb3cb3054749a66b.jpg

a) Poly(chloroethene), once called polyvinylchloride (PVC).

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19
Q

Draw the addition polymerisation of tetrafluoroethene (all 4 hydrogen are replaced with fluorine)

A

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/42/7d/eb/427deb5d152fcc7ac2eace0e206448c8.jpg

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20
Q

What are the two types of poly(ethene)?

A

High-density (HDPE) and low-density (LDPE).

21
Q

What is LDPE used for?

A

It’s used to make plastic carrier bags.

22
Q

Is LDPE flexible and weak or strong and rigid?

A

LDPE is flexible and not too strong.

23
Q

What is HDPE used for?

A

HDPE is used for plastic bottles and milk bottle lids.

24
Q

Is HDPE flexible and weak or strong and rigid?

A

HDPE is strong and rigid.

25
Q

Is poly(propene) stronger or weaker than poly(ethene)? What is poly(propene) used to make?

A

Poly(propene) is stronger than poly(ethene). It makes hard plastics like crates and ropes.

26
Q

What is poly(chloroethene) or PVC used for?

A

Poly(chloroethane) or PVC is used for window frames. It is also used for plumbing pipes if plasticisers are added, which make it bend. It doesn’t conduct electricity so can insulate electrical wires.

27
Q

What is poly(tetrafluoroethene) also called?

A

Poly(tetrafluoroethene) is also known as Teflon.

28
Q

Why is poly(tetrafluoroethene) unreactive and what is it used for?

A

Poly(tetrafluoroethene) is unreactive because of the strong C-F bonds, so is coated onto cooking pans to prevent food sticking.

29
Q

What atoms and how many of each are in the alkene of the addition polymer: poly(tetrafluoroethene)?

A

The tetrafluoroethene is the alkene. Alkenes have a double carbon bond (C=C). It’s ethene so has two carbons. The tetrafluorine means there are four fluorines.

30
Q

Draw the displayed formula for the alkene in the addition polymer: poly(tetrafluoroethene).

A

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/61/a6/11/61a61161f300ec23de21a5ba98fea338.jpg

31
Q

What are the two steps of naming addition polymers?

A
  1. Write ‘poly’.
  2. Write the monomer’s name after in brackets.

Examples:
Poly(ethene)
Poly(butene)

32
Q

What are the three steps of writing formulae for addition polymers?

A
  1. Write the formula of the monomer (the alkene).
  2. Place in brackets.
  3. Write a subscript ‘n’ at the end.

Examples:
Poly(ethene) = (C2H4)n
Poly(butene) = (C4H8)n

EXAM TIP: Know the no. of subunits? Write the formula with ‘n’ and again with ‘n’ replaced appropriately.

33
Q

What is the monomer?

A

The monomer is the alkene.

34
Q

What is the polymer?

A

The alkenes joined together.

35
Q

What is the repeat unit?

A

The monomer once in the polymer.

36
Q

Why is the repeat unit different from the monomer?

A

Because the repeat unit has lost its C=C bond. Monomers join when the C=C bond ‘opens’ and the 2 free covalent bonds attach to new carbons.

37
Q

How do you draw polymers in 4 steps (using displayed formula)?

A
  1. Select two adjacent carbon atoms from the chain.
  2. Draw them out with the hydrogen atoms attached. Leave continuation bonds on the ends (unfinished lines).
  3. Place brackets around them and write a subscript ‘n’ after.
  4. Make sure the continuation bonds pass through the brackets.

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/9d/bb/ce/9dbbceaea8b277be6abe3e73792a55dd.jpg

38
Q

How do you draw repeat units (using displayed formula)?

A

Remove one bond from the C=C (to make it C-C). Add single bonds to the other side of each carbon (continuation bonds). These are the continuation bonds. If you know the polymers displayed formula, you can just remove the brackets and ‘n’.

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/95/96/cd/9596cde71fd3774cef2c22c8fc35cffe.jpg

39
Q

How do you draw monomers (using displayed formula)?

A

Draw a repeat unit, replace the single C-C bond with a double bond and remove the continuation bonds.

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a6/6b/f3/a66bf34204a0dda5a26f186a993374a3.jpg

40
Q

What are structural formulas?

A

Structural formulas are formulas that remove all the single bonds and then name the elements from left to right. We can add brackets if we want to condense further.

41
Q

Draw the structural formula of the polymer of poly(chloroethene).

a) What is the structural formula of chloroethene?
b) If asked for the monomer of poly(chloroethene), what would you give?
c) How can you turn the structural formula for the monomer of poly(chloroethene) into the repeat unit structural formula?
d) How can you turn the structural formula for the repeat unit into the structural formula for a polymer with the standard notation (opposed to drawing the full molecule)?

A

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/65/6a/55/656a555e5cc53138e7c4064cf7d7c235.jpg

a) CH2=CHCl
b) CH2=CHCl
c) Remove the double bond and add continuation bonds on both ends. — CH2CHCl —
d) Add brackets and a subscript n after. Make sure the continuation bonds pass through the brackets to give:
-(-CH2CHCl-)- n

42
Q

What are the problems associated with addition polymers and what causes these problems?

A

Addition polymers are non-biodegradable. They aren’t broken down by bacteria. This is because of their strong covalent bonds, making them very stable/inert.

43
Q

How can we dispose of addition polymers?

A

Many countries dump plastic in landfill sites. This doesn’t release greenhouse gases and is cheap. However, it takes up a lot of space, is ugly and won’t go away for thousands of years.

Other countries incinerate the polymers to create heat to make electricity in power plants. Plastics burn well, but release lots of CO2 and other toxic gases, contributing to global warming. It’s also expensive to set up and maintain the power pant.

44
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of dumping polymers (plastic) in landfill sites?

A

Advantages:
- Doesn’t release greenhouse gases
- Cheap

Disadvantages:
- Takes up lots of space
- Ugly
- Won’t go away for thousands of years

45
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of incinerating polymers (plastic)?

A

Advantages:
- Creates heat to make electricity in power plants
- Plastics burn well

Disadvantages:
- Releases lots of CO2 and other toxic gases, contributing to global warming
- Expensive to set up and maintain a power plant

46
Q

Can all plastics be recycled?

47
Q

There are symbols on various plastic products. What are these six symbols that may be on a plastic product?

A
  1. PETE = polyethylene terephthalate (a triangle with a 1 in it)
  2. HDPE = high-density polyethylene (a triangle with a 2 in it)
  3. V = polyvinyl chloride (a triangle with a 3 in it)
  4. LDPE = low-density polyethylene (a triangle with a 4 in it)
  5. PP = polypropylene (a triangle with a 5 in it)
  6. PS = polystyrene (a triangle with a 6 in it)
48
Q

Which plastics are most likely to be able to be recycled?

A

PETE (polyethylene terephthalate).
HDPE (high-density polyethylene).
V (polyvinyl chloride)

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