Polymers and extra soap stuff

Question 1

Polyethelene

Imagine the styructure of polyethylene

Answer 1

Question 2

Polyethylene

What is the process of addition polymerisation?

Answer 2

1. Initiation
   The reaction begins when an initiator (like a free radical, heat, or a catalyst) breaks the double bond in a monomer. This forms a reactive site
2. Propagation
   The reactive monomer attacks another monomer, adding it to the chain.
   Its basically the repetition of thje first site until a long chain is created.
3. Termination
   The reaction ends when two reactive chain ends combine or are deactivated, stopping chain growth.

Question 3

Polyethene

What are the features of polyethene

Answer 3

• High temp: 300 degrees at 2000 atm
• Lack control: high degree of branching in the molecular shape, softer, alot of room between moelcules.
• Low density due to big gaps
• Low strength, not many strong connections
• Low melting point as they contain only dipole dipole bonds.

Question 4

Polyethene

What are the advantages and the process of using the HPPE using Ziegler-Natta catalyst?

Also properties and uses

Answer 4

Advantages
* Dont need to use a large chamber
* Lower atm and temperature
* Cost effective
* No more branching
* Stuiffer
* Dencer

Catalyst used
Titanium (III) Chloride and trialkyl aluminium

This catalyst weakens bonds and lines things up in a molecular chain

Process
Similar process as the origional polymerisation

Properties and uses
Petrol tanks
Freeze bags
Bowls
Buckets

Question 5

Poltethene

What are some examples of specialist polymers?

Answer 5

PVC (Polyviral Chloride)
Addition of chlorine reduces flexibility and makes it stiffer, harder and stronger

Chlorine is a larger molecule= larger dispersion forces

Plasticiser
This makes the plastic softer

UV absorvber
Chlorine will break down in the sunlight for after a long time.

Adding flame retardant
Chemical lowers flammability

What is made from PVC
Credit cards
Shower curtains
Electrical conduct

PVC

Question 6

Polyethelene

Structure and charactaristics of Polystyrene

Answer 6

• Tough and strong
• Can align and form a crystal structure (hard)

Question 7

Polystyrene

What are the uses of polystyrene?

Answer 7

• Car batteries
• Screw drivers
• Soft packaging (alot of air is blown in)
• Tools

Question 8

PTFE

What is PTFE? charatcaristics and uses

Answer 8

Polytetrafluroethene
- Electronegativity of florine is continously electronegative
- very insoluble
- Low friction material
- Strong
- used in space shuttes and cooking pans

Question 9

PTFE

What is cross linking, process and examples

Answer 9

A process of two or more linear chains are joined together to form a more extended two-dimentional network as shown

it is created in a process called valcunisation were they introduce sulfur to link chains causing stiffer and less flexible rubber.

Question 9

PTFE

Chain branching vs. chain stiffening

Answer 9

Reducing and increasing flexibility

Question 10

Condensation Polymerisation 7.6.2

What is Sucrose

Answer 10

Alpha glucose and fructose joined together

Question 10

Condensation Polymerisation 7.6.2

What does beta and alpha glucose look like?

Answer 10

Question 10

Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2

What is wood?

Answer 10

Long chain of Beta glucose

Question 11

Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2

Why is Wood stronger that sucrose in terms of glucose?

Answer 11

Beta-glucose (in cellulose/wood):

Forms straight chains with β(1→4) bonds.

Chains form strong hydrogen bonds with each other.

Creates rigid, strong structures (e.g. plant cell walls, wood).

Alpha-glucose (in sucrose/starch):

Forms coiled or branched chains with α bonds.

Less hydrogen bonding between molecules.

Used for energy storage, not structural strength.

Result:

Beta-glucose structures (like cellulose) are stronger than alpha-glucose structures.

Question 12

Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2

What is cellulose? Structure and made of

Answer 12

It is made of beta glucose

Question 13

Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2

What is starch made of? Charactaristics and structure

Answer 13

Made of alpha glucose
Can line up closley= Softer and more easily broken down

Question 14

Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2

What is a polyamide? Formation

Answer 14

It is formed by adipic acid ( a dicarboxylic acid) and a hexamethylene diamine.

Question 14

Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2

What is a condensation polymer?

Answer 14

A polymer that can rip out a Hydrogen

Question 15

Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2

What is an amino acid?

Answer 15

Question 16

Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2

What is Nylon? Formation, formula

Answer 16

Comonly nylon-6
Formed: Monomer 6-aminohexonic acid
Has an amine group and a carboxylic group

the CO and NH bond gets broken and makes the benzene into a linear Carbon chain.

Question 17

Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2

What is a dimer? Dimer formation

Answer 17

Question 18

Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2

What is the reaction of alkenes with H2SO4

Answer 18

R–CH=CH₂+H₂O
diluteH₂SO₄
​
R–CH(OH)–CH₃

it is a equilibrium equasion so if you add concentrated H2SO4 to the alcohole it turns back to an alkene and water.

Question 19

Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2

What are nylon properties?

Answer 19

• Keeps colours well
• Makes good for ropes with alot of abrasion
• High temp (256 degrees)
• Soft to the touch

Question 20

Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2

What are polyesters?

Answer 20

Question 21

# Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2 What is the condensation polymerisation of alpha glucose to cellulose?

Answer 21

Question 22

# Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2 What is the condensation polymerisation of beta glucose to cellulose?

Answer 22

Question 23

# Condensatin Polymerisation 7.6.2 Why are polyesters destroyed by sodium hydroxide solution?

Answer 23

Ester bonds react with OH causing sapinification (ster reacts with a strong base (usually sodium hydroxide, NaOH) to produce an alcohol and a salt of a carboxylic acid) and breaking down the ester into smaller molecules.

Question 24

# Condensation Polymerisation 7.6.2 Why are polyamides like nylon attacked by dilute acids like sulphuric acid

Answer 24

The acid hydrolyses the amide links – adding water back to reform the original acid and amine groups. The polymer chains therefore break down into small individual molecules, and their structure is destroyed.