Synthetic & Natural Polymers (AQA GCSE Chemistry): Exam Questions

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.

Poly(propene) is produced from polymerising propene.

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

Figure 1

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.

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

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

Evaluate the suitability of these polymers for firefighter uniforms.

The following molecule can undergo addition polymerisation. 

What it the correct repeat unit?

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

Give the monomer used to form poly(chloroethene).

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

Poly(chloroethene) is the only product.

What type of polymer is poly(chloroethene)?

Proteins, starch and DNA are all naturally occurring polymers.

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

Describe the formation of polypeptides.

Describe the structure of DNA.

Which of the following is not true about DNA?

The structure of a polymer is shown below.

What is the correct monomer?

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

What is true about the structure?

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.

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

Draw the structure of the corresponding monomer.

Figure 2 

Describe how this addition polymer forms from monomers.

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

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

Figure 4

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

Describe the process of condensation polymerisation

State four uses of addition polymers

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

This question is about polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Figure 1 shows a short section of a PVC. 

Figure 1

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

The monomer has two carbon atoms.

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

PVC molecules are shown in Figure 2. 

Figure 2

When PVC is heated, it melts.

Explain why. 

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

Name the functional group in:

Monomer A: ______________________

Monomer B: ______________________

Polymer C: _______________________

This question is about photosynthesis and naturally occurring polymers.

Plants photosynthesise to produce oxygen and glucose, C₆H₁₂O_6, from carbon dioxide and water.

Write the balanced symbol equation for photosynthesis. 

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

Give the result of the test.

Plants contain cellulose in their cell walls.

Name the monomer that forms cellulose.

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

Figure 1

Describe the shape and structure of this polymer.

Figure 2 shows the amino acid alanine. 

Figure 2

How many functional groups are there in this amino acid?

Circle one box.

1 2 3 4

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

Name the type of polymerisation reaction that occurs. 

This question is about polymerisation.

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

Complete the table. 

Table 1

Name	Formula	Name	Formula
ethene		poly(ethene)
styrene		polystyrene
		poly(chloroethene)

State whether ethene is saturated or unsaturated.

Give one reason for your answer.

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

The equation demonstrates how a polyester is made:

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

This question is about polyesters.

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

Figure 1

  Which homologous series does ethanediol belong to?

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

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

Draw the remaining bonds to complete the diagram.

Figure 2

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

Name the small molecule. 

Why does this polyester melt when it is heated?

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

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