Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2023
First exams 2025
This question is about different polymers.
Polymer X can be formed from an alkene. The structure of polymer X is shown in Fig. 1.1.
State the type of polymerisation involved in the formation of polymer X.
Suggest three reasons why the disposal of polymer X would prove to be a challenge.
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Butene, C4H8, can exist as three isomers.
Isomer A is a position isomer of isomers B and C and does not show geometric isomerism.
Isomers B and C are geometric isomers of each other.
Isomer B is the cis isomer.
Isomer C is the trans isomer.
Draw the displayed formula of the addition polymer formed by isomer A.
A student was asked to draw the displayed formula of the addition polymer of isomers B and C. They suggested that there were two structures as shown in Fig. 2.1.
Fig. 2.1
State why the student’s two suggested structures are the same addition polymer.
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A molecule of chloroethene is shown in Fig. 3.1.
Fig. 3.1
Chlorothene can be polymerised to form poly(chloroethene).
State the alternative name for poly(chloroethene).
Draw a diagram of the structure of poly(chloroethene) including three repeat units.
State a problem caused by the combustion of poly(chloroethene) as a method of disposal and suggest how the effects of this problem can be reduced.
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Addition polymers are made by the polymerisation of alkenes.
Explain what is meant by the term addition polymerisation.
Trans-hept-2-ene can be made into an addition polymer.
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Suggest why the polymer made from trans-hept-2-ene is not called poly(trans-hept-2-ene).
Trans-hept-2-ene is a liquid at room temperature and pressure but poly(hept-2-ene) is a solid.
Explain why there is a difference in the states of trans-hept-2-ene and poly(hept-2-ene).
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Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a polymer which is rigid enough for use as a drainpipe and flexible enough for plastic aprons.
State the IUPAC name of PVC.
Fig 2.1 below shows a section of the PVC polymer.
Fig 2.1
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The polymer poly(propene) is formed from the monomer propene.
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Table 2.1
| Physical property | Poly(methylpropene) | Poly(ethene) |
| Insoluble in water | ||
| Unreactive | ||
| High density |
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Polymers are unreactive compounds due to their long non-polar chain of saturated carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds. Though this means that they are safe to use due it also means that they are non-biodegradable as they are not attacked by biological agents such as enzymes.
Table 2.2 shows three different ways in which polymers can be disposed of.
Table 2.2
| Method of disposal | Disadvantage |
| Recycling | |
| Incineration | |
| Landfill |
State the disadvantage of each method of disposal to complete Table 2.2.
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This question is about different polymers and their uses.
Poly(tetrafluoroethene), also known as PTFE, is an addition polymer used as a non-stick coating in pans as it is very unreactive.
Draw the displayed formula of the monomer used to form PTFE.
Draw two repeating units of poly(tetrafluorethene).
The table shows the melting points of two polymers.
| Polymer | Melting point / °C |
| Poly(ethene) | 137 |
| Poly(chloroethene) (PVC) | 212 |
Explain the differences in melting point of these two polymers in terms of the intermolecular forces between the chains.
Poly(ethene) bags pollute the environment for a long time because they are non-biodegradable.
Describe two pollution problems that are caused by non-biodegradable polymers.
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The structures of two different polymers, poly(ethene) and poly(propene) are shown in Fig. 4.1.
Fig. 4.1
Suggest two reasons why these polymers are unreactive.
State one advantage and one disadvantage of the unreactivity of addition polymers.
Another example of a polymer is polystyrene which is often used as packing material and electrical insulation.
Fig. 4.2 shows three repeating units of the polymer.
Fig. 4.2
Draw the structure of monomer X which is used to form the polymer shown in Fig. 4.2.
Two different monomers can also join together to form an addition polymer.
Monomer X can react with monomer Y to form a polymer. Two repeating units of this polymer are shown in Fig 4.3.
Fig. 4.3
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Poly(but-1-ene) is insoluble in water so is used in applications such as making water pipes
Write an equation to show how poly(but-1-ene) is formed from the monomer but-1-ene.
Not all polymers are insoluble in water. One example is poly(vinylalcohol) known as PVA. PVA is used in applications such as in the casing of detergent-filled capsules.
A section of the polymer chain of PVA is shown in Fig. 5.1.
Fig. 5.1
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Combustion can be used to dispose of poly(alkenes), such as poly(but-1-ene).
Give one advantage and one disadvantage to the environment of disposing of polymers by combustion.
Poly(chloroethene), PVC, can also be disposed of via combustion but it produces toxic waste gases including hydrogen chloride.
Suggest a reagent that can be used to remove this toxic gas from the waste gases.
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Poly(methyl methacrylate) is used as a glass substitute in Perspex.
A section of the polymer chain is shown in Fig. 1.1.
Fig. 1.1
Draw the skeletal formula of the monomer.
Explain why poly(methylmethacrylate) is fairly unreactive.
Bioplastics, such as biodegradable plastics offer a sustainable alternative to oil-based products.
Where the use of plant-based polymers is not possible, photodegradable polymers are being developed.
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Explain how p-orbitals are involved in the formation of the C=C bond in chloroalkenes.
You should include a sketch in your answer.
Compound Y has six possible structural isomers of C3H3Cl3.
Two of these isomers are shown in Fig. 2.1.
Fig. 2.1
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Polymers can be disposed of by incineration.
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But-2-ene, CH3CH=CHCH3, is an important compound which is obtained from the cracking of hydrocarbons present in crude oil.
Some reactions of but-2-ene are shown in Fig. 3.1.
Fig. 3.1
Give the structural formulae of the organic compounds A to C.
But-2-ene can be polymerised to give poly(butene). Draw the structural formula of a portion of the polymer chain in poly(butene) showing two repeat units.
Explain why there is an increasing demand for polymers to be recycled rather than incinerated.
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