C2.2.7 - Polymer molecules

Question 1

What are polymers?

Answer 1

Substance with molecules made from many repeat units

Question 2

What are monomers?

Answer 2

Small molecules that can join together to form polymer molecules

Question 3

How is polythene formed?

Answer 3

Many ethene molecules joining end to end

Question 4

How are proteins formed?

Answer 4

Many acid molecules joining end to end

Question 5

What is cross linking?

Answer 5

The process of forming covalent bonds to join 2 polymer chains together

Question 6

Are plastics polymers?

Answer 6

Yes

Question 7

What happens if a plastic is made up of chains that are only held together by weak intermolecular forces?

Answer 7

The chains will be free to slide over each other and it can be stretched easily

Question 8

What happens if plastics have strong bonds between the polymer chains (these could be covalent bonds or sometimes cross-links)?

Answer 8

They will be rigid and can’t be stretched as the cross-links hold the chains firmly together

Question 9

What is a repeating unit?

Answer 9

A section of a polymer that is repeated many times in the molecule

Question 10

Why are most polymers solid at room temperature?

Answer 10

Because the intermolecular forces of attraction between polymer molecules are relatively strong