Polymers and Esters (PAPER TWO)

Question 1

What’s a polymer?

Answer 1

A polymer is a large molecule made from lots of small molecules, called monomers, joined together.

Question 2

What’s Polymerisation?

Answer 2

The process in which monomers join together

Question 3

Can polymer molecules be given a specific relative molecular mass?-why?

Answer 3

No
- Polymer molecules can be different lengths
- But, we know that a polymer has a high AVERAGE relative molecular mass

Question 4

Explain Addition Polymerisation

Answer 4

One of an alkenes’ double bond breaks open so another alkene molecule adds on
This process occurs again and again, forming a long chain

Question 5

What’s the repeating unit?

Answer 5

Shows how many groups of atoms that are repeated in the polymer

Question 6

What do addition polymerisation reactions require?

Answer 6

Pressure and a catalyst

Question 7

How are esters formed?

Answer 7

A carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst

Question 8

What’s the functional group of Esters?

Answer 8

-COO-

Question 9

What do Esters end in?

Answer 9

-ethyl
-noate

Question 10

Why is the formation of esters a condensation reaction?

Answer 10

Water is also produced

Question 11

What are the uses for Esters? - why?

Answer 11

Perfumes and food flavourings:
- Pleasant smell
- Volatile (evaporate easily)

Question 12

Other than the Ester, what product is formed when an alcohol and carboxylic acid react?-why?

Answer 12

Water: Carboxylic acid loses its OH group, and the alcohol loses the hydrogen from its OH group to form a water molecule

Question 13

Draw the polymerisation of Butene/what does it form?

Answer 13

See Ipad for answer!! Poly(Butene)

Question 14

What type of polymerisation makes polyesters?

Answer 14

Condensation polymerisation:
- the monomers join together and eliminate a small molecule such as water

Question 15

What type of polymer are polyesters?

Answer 15

Synthetic polymers

Question 16

What’s Poly(ethene)’s common name and use?

Answer 16

• Polythene
• Plastic bags/cling film

Question 17

What’s Poly(propene)’s common name and use?

Answer 17

• Polypropylene
• Ropes/carpets

Question 18

What’s Poly(chloroethene)’s common name and use?

Answer 18

• PVC
• Window frames/covering for electrical wires

Question 19

What’s Poly(tetrafluoroethene)’s common name and use?

Answer 19

• PTFE
• Non stick coating on frying pans

Question 20

What’s Poly(phenylethene)’s common name and use?

Answer 20

• Polystyrene
• Packaging/thermal insulation on ceilings

Question 21

How can organic molecules form polymers without an alkene?

Answer 21

Condensation polymerisation

Question 22

Explain what happens during condensation polymerisation.

Answer 22

• Involves a carboxylic acid and alcohol
• The OH part of the carboxylic acid functional group joins with the hydrogen atom from the alcohol functional group to form a water molecule
• The rest of the carboxylic acid and alcohol molecules join up to form a polymer molecule (-thyl -anoate)

Question 23

How are polyesters formed?

Answer 23

When carboxylic acids and alcohols have a functional
group at each end of their molecules, the carboxylic acid loses its OH group, and the alcohol loses the H from its OH group. These form water and the carbon from the CA bonds to the oxygen on the alcohol, forming an ester link.
The monomers are joined together by ester links

Question 24

How can polyesters with different properties be produced?

Answer 24

-By varying the numbers of carbon atoms in the monomers,
and what is attached to them