chapter 13 Flashcards
(10 cards)
cracking
large hydrocarbons broken down to produce smaller, more useful molecules. This process involved heating the hydrocarbons to vaporise them. The vapors are either passed over a hot catalyst or mixed with stea, and heated to a very high temperature so that thermal decomposition reactions occur
products of cracking
-alkanes
-alkense
alkenes with bromine water
orange to colorless
polymerization
when monomers form polymers
different reaction condintions in polymerization
-Using very high pressures and trace of oxygen. ethene forms LD polyethene
-using a catalyst at 50 degrees and a slightly raised pressure, ethene makes HD polyethene
thermosetting polymers
-consist of polymer chains with cross links between them so they dont melt when heated
-their monomers make covalent bonds between the polymer chains when they are first heated in order to shape them
-these covalent bonds are strong, and they stop the polymer from softening
-the covalent ‘cross links’ between chains do not allow them to seperate
-even is heated strongly, the polymer will still not soften
-eventually the polymer will char at high enough temperatures
thermosoftening polymers
-consist of individual,tangled polymer chains
-forces between polymer chains are weak
-when the polymer is heated, these weak intermolecular forces becomes soft
-when the polymer cools down, the intermolecular forces bring the polymer molecules back together
-then the polymer hardens, this type of polymer can be remolded
polymer uses
-new packaging material
-waterproof coating for fabrics
-dental polymers
-wound dressing
-hydrogels
-smart materials (including shape memory polymers)
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plastic bags are being made from…
polymers and cornstartch so that they breakdown more easily
what do non- biodegradable polymers causes
-take up space in landfill sites
-harm wildlife
-unsightful rubbish