Polymers (Edexcel GCSE Chemistry)

Higher Only

The following molecule can undergo addition polymerisation.

What is the correct repeat unit?

Figure 10 shows information about a glass, a ceramic, a polymer and a metal.

*polymers soften, rather than melt, when heated.

Figure 10

Figure 11 shows part of a household wire that connects a kettle to a plug.

Figure 11

i) Why is this wire made of metal?

(1)

ii) Which type of material would be most suitable for the insulation on this household wire?

(1)

Explain, using information from Figure 10, why the ceramic is a suitable material to make a cup that will contain a hot drink of tea or coffee.

i) The structure of a molecule of a polymer is shown in Figure 12.

Figure 12

Complete the structure of a molecule of the monomer used to make this polymer by adding the missing covalent bonds.

(2)

ii) Poly(ethene) has many uses in everyday life.

Large amounts of poly(ethene) are manufactured from ethene produced by cracking fractions obtained from crude oil.

Poly(ethene) is used to make many objects.

After use it is necessary to dispose of the large amounts of poly(ethene) in these objects.

Explain some of the problems associated with the manufacture and disposal of poly(ethene).

(6)

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?

Figure 4 shows information about a ceramic and a metal.

Figure 4

The ceramic, rather than the metal, is a more suitable material for washbasins.

Give a reason for this, using a property from Figure 4.

Poly(propene) is an example of a polymer.

The structure of a poly(propene) molecule is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5

This polymer is made from a monomer.

Draw the structure of the monomer molecule showing all covalent bonds.

A layer of poly(chloroethene) (PVC) is used to surround the copper in electrical cables.

Explain why poly(chloroethene) is a suitable material for this purpose.

Higher Only

Some polymers are polyesters.

What type of reaction takes place when polyesters are formed?

Higher Only

The repeating unit in a polyester molecule is shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6

i) This polymer is made from two different monomers. Draw a molecule of each monomer showing all covalent bonds.

(2)

ii) Give the name or formula of the small molecule formed when the monomer molecules react to form an ester link.

(1)

Which of the following is not true about DNA?

Polymer molecules can be made by joining together large numbers of small molecules called monomers.

Figure 5 shows the names and structures of some polymers and the monomers used to make them.

Complete the table using the information given.

Figure 5

Plastics are polymers.

State two problems caused by the disposal of polymers.

A molecule of propene has the structure shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6

Which of the following shows the structure of part of a poly(propene) molecule?

Calculate the relative formula mass of the poly(propene) molecule made from joining together 24600 molecules of propene, C₃H₆.

(relative formula mass: C₃H₆ = 42.0)

Give your answer to three significant figures.

The structure of a polymer is shown below.

What is the correct monomer?

Figure 16 shows the structure of a molecule of dichloroethene.

Figure 16

i) Describe how dichloroethene monomers form a polymer.

(2)

ii) Which of these represents the structure of the polymer formed from the monomer in Figure 16?

(1)

☐	A
☐	B
☐	C
☐	D

iii) Separate samples of dichloroethene and poly(dichloroethene) are shaken with a few drops of bromine water.

What would be seen?

(1)

Dichloroethene is produced from ethene and chlorine.

In the overall reaction, ethene reacts with chlorine and forms dichloroethene and hydrogen chloride.

Complete the balanced equation for the overall reaction.

C₂H₄ + 2Cl₂ → C₂H₂Cl₂ + .................

Poly(dichloroethene) was used to wrap food to keep it fresh.

Explain one property that a plastic food wrapping must have.

An industrial process uses 500 tonnes of dichloroethene.
In the process only 96.5% of the dichloroethene molecules react.

Calculate the mass of dichloroethene that has not reacted.

Give your answer to two significant figures.

mass = ............................................. tonnes

Which of the following statements about polymers is NOT correct?

This question is about polymers.

i) State a problem with recycling polymers.

(1)

ii) Describe a problem associated with the disposal of polymers.

(2)

Poly(chloroethene) is a polymer made from chloroethene. A molecule of chloroethene is shown in Figure 20.

Figure 20

i) On Figure 20, draw a circle around the functional group in this molecule.

(1)

ii) Draw a section of a poly(chloroethene) molecule containing three repeating units, showing all bonds.

(3)

iii) What type of polymer is poly(chloroethene)?

(1)

iv) Calculate the relative formula mass of a poly(chloroethene) molecule made from 2850 chloroethene molecules, C₂H₃Cl.
(relative atomic masses: H = 1.00, C = 12.0, Cl = 35.5)

Give your answer to three significant figures.
Show your working.

(3)

Polymers are large molecules made by linking together many smaller molecules called monomers.

Which of the following does NOT show the correct monomer name and corresponding polymer name.

A student carried out an experiment to prove that candle wax, a hydrocarbon, produces carbon dioxide and water vapour when it burns. The equipment used is shown in Figure 11

Figure 11

The gas produced from the burning candle is drawn through the apparatus. The limewater turned milky showing that carbon dioxide had been formed.

A small amount of a colourless liquid condensed in boiling tube X. The student claimed that this proved that burning candle wax produced water. The teacher said the apparatus had been set up incorrectly and therefore this conclusion about water was not valid.

Explain how the student could modify the equipment to prove that water is produced by burning candle wax.

Higher Only

Polymers are addition or condensation polymers.

Polymers can be formed by using the monomers shown in Figure 12.

Figure 12

Explain, using appropriate monomers from Figure 12, how different polymers can be formed.

An alcohol A, with molecular formula C₂H₅OH is oxidised to a compound B with molecular formula C₂H₄O_2.

i) Compound B is not an alcohol and is a member of another homologous series. State the name of this homologous series.

(1)

ii) Draw the structure of a molecule of compound A and a molecule of compound B, showing all covalent bonds.

(2)

Compound A  

Compound B

Higher Only

Figure 3 shows the structure of two monomers.

Figure 3

i) Monomer B contains a carboxylic acid group.

Describe what you would see when a small amount of solid sodium carbonate is added to a solution of monomer B.

(2)

ii) When monomer A and monomer B react together they polymerise to form a polymer and one other product.

Name the type of polymerisation that takes place and name the other product.

(2)

type of polymerisation ...............................

name of other product ................................

iii) A naturally occurring polymer is made by combining monomers called nucleotides.

Give the name of this natural polymer.

(1)

Some polymerisation reactions produce ammonia as a waste product.

A student is given a sample of pure, dry ammonia gas.

The student suggests the following method to test for ammonia gas.

• step 1    take some dry, blue litmus paper

• step 2    place the dry litmus paper into the dry gas

• step 3    observe any change in colour of the litmus paper

This test for ammonia will not work.

Give two changes that should be made to this test for it to work.

change 1 ...........................................................

change 2 ............................................................

Alcohols can be dehydrated.

Complete the balanced equation for the dehydration of butan‐1‐ol by drawing the structures of the two products in the boxes. Name the two products.

Polythene is a polymer used to make plastic bags.

It is formed from the monomer, ethene, shown in Figure 1. 

Figure 1

Crude oil can be used as a raw material to produce polythene. 

Describe how polythene is produced from crude oil.

You should include the name of each process in your answer. 

i) Draw a repeating unit of polythene, showing all the bonds.  Use the structure in Figure 1. 

(2)

ii) Explain why polythene is used to make plastic bags.

(1)

Higher Only

Polyester is also formed by a polymerisation reaction. 

Figure 2 shows the structures of two monomers. 

Figure 2 

These react to form a polyester. Part of its structure is shown in Figure 3. 

Figure 3 

i) Give the formula of the functional group found in each monomer.

(1)

ii) Complete the rest of the structure of the polyester, showing all bonds. 

(2)

Higher Only

Polythene and the polyester in part c) are not made from the same method of polymerisation 

Describe the differences between the polymerisation reaction used to make polythene to the reaction used to make polyester. 

A molecule of hydrocarbon X, C₄H₈ is shown in Figure 1. 

Figure 1

i) Give the name of hydrocarbon X shown in Figure 1. 

(1)

ii) Complete the balanced symbol equation for the reaction of hydrocarbon X, C₄H₈ with bromine. 

C₄H₈  +   ...............................................   →   ...............................................

(2)

Draw the repeating unit of the addition polymer formed when hydrocarbon X undergoes polymerisation. 

Figure 2 shows the arrangement of atoms in a molecule of an alcohol.

Figure 2

i) Give the name of the carbon-containing product formed when the alcohol in Figure 2 undergoes dehydration. 

(1)

ii) Give the formula of the functional group of the product formed when the alcohol in Figure 2 undergoes oxidation. 

(1)

Higher Only

Polyesters can be formed when an alcohol reacts with a carboxylic acid. 

These are known as condensation polymers. 

Figure 3 shows the repeating unit of a polyester formed when a carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol. 

Figure 3

i) Give the formula of the other product formed. 

ii) Draw the structure of one molecule of the alcohol used to produce the polyester shown in Figure 3, showing all the covalent bonds.

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.

Higher Only

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

Draw the remaining bonds to complete the diagram.

Figure 2

Higher Only

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

Name the small molecule.