Synthetic & Natural Polymers (AQA GCSE Chemistry)

Exam Questions

2 hours27 questions
1a1 mark

This question is about ethene, the structure of which is shown in Figure 1. 

Figure 1 
 
ethene 

Why is this molecule described as unsaturated? 

1b3 marks

Ethene can undergo a polymerisation reaction.

Complete the sentences using the words in the box. 

 
high poly(ethene) polymers poly(ethane)
ten monomers a few  many


During polymerisation, ____________________ ethene molecules join together to form the large molecule, __________________. 

These large molecules are called ___________________

1c2 marks

Complete the repeating unit of the polymer formed by ethene.

aqa-gcse-7-3e-tq1c-repeating-unit-of-polyethene
1d1 mark

What type of polymer does ethene form?

Tick (✓) one box.

 Condensation    Addition    Substitution   

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2a3 marks

This question is about naturally occurring polymers.

Sugars such as glucose can form naturally occurring polymers. 

Name the three elements found in glucose. 

2b3 marks

Draw one line from each naturally occuring polymer to the monomer it is formed from.

You can use the monomer more than once.

monomer-match-up
2c2 marks

Which statements are correct about the structure of DNA? 

Tick (✓) two boxes.

 It consists of three polymer chains   
 It has bases, A, C, G, and T   
 It has a double helix structure   
 It's formed from the monomer glucose   
2d1 mark

What type of polymerisation are proteins formed by?

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3a5 marks

This question is about addition and condensation polymerisation.

Sort the statements about each type of polymerisation into the correct column in Table 1.

  • Formed from a monomer with C=C double bond 
  • Can be formed from two monomer types with the same functional group 
  • A small molecule, usually water is released
  • Only one product is formed
  • Can be formed from one monomer type with two different functional groups

Table 1

Addition polymerisation Condensation polymerisation
   
   
   

3b2 marks

Which polymers are made by condensation polymerisation? 

Tick (✓) two box.

 Polypeptides  
 Poly(propene)  
 Polyester  
 Polystyrene  
3c1 mark

Poly(butene) can be formed from its monomer via addition polymerisation.

It's structure is shown in Figure 1. 

 
Figure 1 
aqa-gcse-7-3e-tq3c-polybutene


Name the monomer that forms poly(butene) 

3d1 mark

Which type of bonding is present in poly(butene).

Circle one answer. 

Ionic Covalent Metallic

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4a1 mark

Alkenes form polymers via addition polymerisation reactions.

What is the functional group of an alkene?

Tick (✓) one box. 

 -OH    C=C    -COOH  
4b2 marks

Give two conditions needed for addition polymerisation to take place. 

4c2 marks

Propene can form the polymer, poly(propene).

A student drew this repeating unit for the polymer. 

aqa-gcse-7-3e-tq4c-incorrect-polypropene
 

Identify two errors that the student has made.

4d1 mark

Polystyrene is a common polymer often used in packaging.

What name can be given to this type of polymer?

Circle one answer. 

Natural Synthetic Condensation

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5a1 mark

This question is about condensation polymerisation.

Condensation polymerisation produces a polymer and another small molecule.

Which small molecule is usually formed?

Tick (✓) one box.

 carbon dioxide    water    oxygen   nitrogen  
5b2 marks

Amino acids are formed by condensation polymerisation reactions.

Tick (✓) two correct statements about amino acids.

 Amino acids form polypeptide chains  
 An amino acid has two different functional groups  
 Amino acids are saturated  
 Amino acids contain an NH3 functional group  
5c2 marks

A polyester can be formed from the two monomers shown in Figure 1. 

Figure 1
  

HO-CH2-CH2-OH

ethane diol

HOOC-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-COOH

hexanedioic acid

 

Name the functional group for each monomer.

Ethane diol: _______________________________________ 

Hexanedioic acid: __________________________________

5d1 mark

Unlike condensation polymerisation, a small molecule is not released during addition polymerisation.

Give one other difference between condensation and addition polymerisation. 

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1a1 mark

This question is about the chemistry and applications of polymers.

When two monomers with different functional groups join together, a polyester and another small molecule are formed.

Name the small molecule that is formed.

1b3 marks

Poly(propene) is produced from polymerising propene.

Complete the structure of poly(propene) in the equation shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

7-3-synthetic--natural-polymers-medium-q1b

1c3 marks

Carpets are made from:

  • wool
  • poly(propene)
  • a mixture of both

Wool is less durable than poly(propene).

A mixture of both substances to make carpets is more sustainable than using just wool or just poly(propene).

Suggest why.

1d1 mark

How many functional groups are present in the amino acid alanine?

4

  • 1

  • 2

  • 3

  • 4

1e4 marks

Polymer fibres are used to make the fabric used to produce firefighter uniforms.

Table 1 below shows some properties of two types of polymer fibres, a poly(propene) and a polyester.

Table 1

  Polymer fibres
Property Poly(propene) Polyester
Density in g/cm3 0.88 1.40
Melting point in °C 162 263
Flame resistance Poor Good
Water absorption Low High

Evaluate the suitability of these polymers for firefighter uniforms.

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21 mark

The following molecule can undergo addition polymerisation.

 j92YlLlN_1

What it the correct repeat unit?

2-1

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    3a1 mark

    Poly(chloroethene) is an extremely versatile plastic with many different applications.

    Give the monomer used to form poly(chloroethene).

    3b5 marks

    Figure 6 shows part of the equation for the formation of poly(chloroethene).

    Complete Figure 6 to show the product, correct notation and bonds in both the monomer and polymer.

    Figure 6

    7-3-synthetic--natural-polymers-medium-q4b

    3c1 mark

    Poly(chloroethene) is the only product.

    What type of polymer is poly(chloroethene)?

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    4a2 marks

    Proteins, starch and DNA are all naturally occurring polymers.

    Give the names of the monomers from which proteins and starch are produced.

    4b2 marks

    Describe the formation of polypeptides.

    4c3 marks

    Describe the structure of DNA.

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    51 mark

    Which of the following is not true about DNA?

    • The structure is a double helix

    • DNA is made from nucleotides

    • DNA is made from two polymer chains

    • The monomers that form DNA are amino acids

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    61 mark

    The structure of a polymer is shown below.

    6
    What is the correct monomer?

    NB7rJx~C_6

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      71 mark


      Part of the chemical structure of a wool fibre is shown below.

      t6JJ7hz4_6
      What is true about the structure?

      • The structure is a carbohydrate

      • The structure is an addition polymer

      • The structure is a protein

      • Hydrogen has two covalent bonds in the chain

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      8a1 mark

      Tetrafluoroethene is a gas which under certain conditions can form a white solid by addition polymerisation.

      Give the name of the addition polymer that it forms.

      8b3 marks

      The structure of this polymer can be represented by Figure 2.

      Draw the structure of the corresponding monomer.

      Figure 2 
      7-3-synthetic--natural-polymers-medium-q2b

      8c5 marks

      Describe how this addition polymer forms from monomers.

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      9a2 marks

      Poly(ethene) is a long-chain saturated hydrocarbon. The formula for part of the polymer chain shown in Figure 3.

      Write down the structural formula of the small molecule from which poly(ethene) is made.

      Figure 3

      7-3-synthetic--natural-polymers-medium-q3a

      9b2 marks

      Draw the bonds to complete the displayed formulae of ethene and poly(ethene)in the equation in Figure 4.

      Figure 4

      E006OZmp_7-3-synthetic--natural-polymers-medium-q3b

      9c3 marks

      Polyesters are made by a different method of polymerisation than that used in poly(ethene).

      The equation for the reaction to produce a polyester can be represented as shown in Figure 5.

      Figure 5

      7-3-synthetic--natural-polymers-medium-q3c

      Describe the process of condensation polymerisation

      9d4 marks

      State four uses of addition polymers

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      101 mark

      How many functional groups are present in the amino acid alanine?

      4

      • 1

      • 2

      • 3

      • 4

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      1a2 marks

      This question is about polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

      Figure 1 shows a short section of a PVC. 

      Figure 1

      aqa-gcse-7-3h-tq-1a-pvc-polymer


      Draw the structure of the monomer from which it is made.

      The monomer has two carbon atoms.

      1b3 marks

      Describe how the addition polymer PVC is formed from its monomer.

      1c3 marks

      PVC molecules are shown in Figure 2. 


      Figure 2

      aqa-gcse-7-3h-tq-1c-pvc-chains


      When PVC is heated, it melts.

      Explain why. 

      1d3 marks

      Polymer C can be formed from monomer A and monomer B.

      The displayed structures monomer A and B are shown in Figure 2 with the functional group highlighted in the box.

      Figure 2

      aqa-gcse-7-3h-q1d-condensation-polymerisation


      Name the functional group in:

      Monomer A: ______________________

      Monomer B: ______________________

      Polymer C: _______________________

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      2a3 marks

      This question is about photosynthesis and naturally occurring polymers.

      Plants photosynthesise to produce oxygen and glucose, C6H12O6, from carbon dioxide and water.

      Write the balanced symbol equation for photosynthesis. 

      2b2 marks

      Describe a test that could be done to identify the gas produced during this reaction.

      Give the result of the test.

      2c1 mark

      Plants contain cellulose in their cell walls.

      Name the monomer that forms cellulose.

      2d3 marks

      A naturally occuring polymer found in all plants is shown in Figure 1.

      Figure 1

      aqa-gcse-7-3h-tq-2d-dna


      Describe the shape and structure of this polymer.

      2e1 mark

      Figure 2 shows the amino acid alanine. 

      Figure 2
      aqa-gcse-7-3h-tq-2e-alanine


      How many functional groups are there in this amino acid?

      Circle one box.

      1 2 3 4



      2f1 mark

      Alanine will react with other amino acids to form a polypeptide and water.

      Name the type of polymerisation reaction that occurs. 

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      3a4 marks

      This question is about polymerisation.

      Table 1 shows information about polymers and the monomers they are made from.

      Complete the table. 

      Table 1

      Monomer Polymer
      Name Formula Name Formula
      ethene   poly(ethene) polyethene-structure
      styrene

      aqa-gcse-7-3h-tq-3a-styrene-3

      polystyrene  
       

      poly(chloroethene) sYqQiEl2_aqa-gcse-7-3h-tq-3a-polychloroethene-sketch

      3b2 marks

      State whether ethene is saturated or unsaturated.

      Give one reason for your answer.

      3c4 marks

      Polyesters are not made from the same method of polymerisation as those in Table 1.

      The equation demonstrates how a polyester is made:

      aqa-gcse-7-3h-tq-3c-forming-polyester


      Compare the polymerisation reaction used to make poly(ethene) to the reaction used to make polyester. 

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      4a1 mark

      This question is about polyesters.

      A polyester is made from the monomers shown in Figure 1. 


      Figure 1
      butanedioc-acid-and-ethanediol-1 

      Which homologous series does ethanediol belong to?

      4b1 mark

      Give the formula that represents the functional group of butanedioic acid.

      4c2 marks

      Part of the structure formed by the polyester is shown in Figure 2. 

      Draw the remaining bonds to complete the diagram.


      Figure 2


      aqa-gcse-7-3h-tq-4c-polyester-structure-to-complete

      4d1 mark

      A small molecule is also produced during the formation of this polyester.

      Name the small molecule. 

      4e2 marks

      Why does this polyester melt when it is heated?

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      51 mark

      Polyesters can be made by condensation polymerisation. Ethanediol can react with butanedioic acid (a carboxylic acid containing two -COOH groups) to make a polymer.

      SNx2OKA0_3
      Which of the following is a correct repeat unit for this polymer?

      • X1sKru-2_a

      • vCgC6LxV_b

      • OZC3CSzF_c

      • d

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