What is meant by the terms monomer and polymer?

A monomer is a small molecule that can join together to form a polymer.

A polymer is a large molecule made up of many repeating monomer units.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What type of polymerisation do alkenes undergo?

Addition polymerisation

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is the balanced equation for the addition polymerisation of ethene?

The formula of poly(ethene) is represented by its repeat unit inside square brackets, followed by n to show repetition.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

Describe the systematic naming of addition polymers.

The prefix, poly-, is used followed by the name of the monomer in brackets.


For example, the addition polymer of ethene is poly(ethene).

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is meant by the repeat unit of a polymer?

The repeat unit of a polymer is the smallest group of atoms that repeats over and over to make up the polymer chain.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

Describe 3 sustainable ways to process waste polymers.

  1. Incineration for energy recovery: combustion of plastics to produce electricity.
  2. Mechanical recycling: melting and remoulding of sorted plastics to make new products.
  3. Feedstock recycling: heating of unsorted plastics to break polymer bonds and recover the monomers which can be used to produce new polymers.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

Explain the environmental benefits of biodegradabe and photodegradable plastics.

Biodegradable and photodegradable plastics break down naturally by biological or light-induced processes, reducing plastic waste and pollution.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of recycling polymers?

Advantages:

1Recycling conserves raw materials and energy.

2Recycling results in lower carbon dioxide emissions compared to incineration.

3Recycling lowers the overall cost of producing plastics.

4Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills.


Disadvantages:

1The collection and processing of plastics can be costly.

2Contamination of plastics during recycling is a common issue.

3Recycling can yield lower-quality materials.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of disposing of polymers through incineration?

Advantages:

1Incineration can generate energy through combustion, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

2Incineration reduces the volume of waste send to landfills.


Disadvantages:

1Some polymers may produce toxic gases when burned.

2The release of carbon dioxide contributes to climate change.

3Incineration is an energy-intensive process.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

How do photodegradable polymers break down?

Photodegradable polymers break down by absorbing energy from ultraviolet light. This causes the bonds in the region of the carbonyl (C=O) group to weaken and break.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.