Polymers

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  • Created by: Meggan
  • Created on: 24-09-13 21:41
What is a monomer?
Small molecules that can be joined together to make longer chains (polymers)
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What is polymerisation?
When small molecules (monomers) react and join up with other molecules to form longer chains (polymers)
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What is a synthetic polymer?
Polymers, e.g. plastics, that can be shaped by heat or pressure
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What sort of bonds do monomers in a polymer have?
Covalent bonds
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What is an addition polymer?
Polymers made under high pressure where alkene monomers have broken their double bond to join up with other monomers
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What is a repeat unit?
Drawing part of the polymer that gets repeated to represent the thousands of molecules there would be in a polymer
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What would the name of a polymer be if if came from a propene monomer?
Poly(propene)
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Name 3 different useful polymers:
1) Polyethene 2) Polypropene 3) Polychlorethene or Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
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Uses of Polyethene:
1) Low Density Polyethene (LDPE) - plastic bags, weak and flexible 2) High density (HDPE) - drain pipes, rigid and strong
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Uses of Polypropene:
Suitcases, helmets - tough and easily molded
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Uses of PVC:
Rainwear clothing, window frames - tough and water resistant
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Why are addition polymers hard to dispose of?
They are not very biodegradable - do not decompose easily
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What are the 3 main ways of disposing these polymers?
1) Landfill sites 2) Burning 3) Recycling
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Problems with recycling?
Many types of plastics, hard to identify, need cleaning first - need sorting; time and effort
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(Triple paper) What is condensation polymerisation?
Reaction of 2 DIFFERENT monomers, with the elimination of water/HCl
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(Triple paper) Give an example of a condensation polymer and a use:
Nylon - used for making tights
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What 2 monomers are in nylon?
1) Diocarboxylic 2) Diamide
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is polymerisation?

Back

When small molecules (monomers) react and join up with other molecules to form longer chains (polymers)

Card 3

Front

What is a synthetic polymer?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What sort of bonds do monomers in a polymer have?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is an addition polymer?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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