Aussie Maths & Science Teachers: Save your time with SmarterEd
Vinyl fluoride can be polymerised.
In the box provided, draw the structural formula for a six-carbon section of the polymer formed from the polymerisation of vinyl fluoride. (2 marks)
--- 0 WORK AREA LINES (style=lined) ---
Contrast ONE addition polymer and ONE condensation polymer in terms of their structures, properties and uses. Include structural formulae in your answers. (7 marks)
--- 20 WORK AREA LINES (style=lined) ---
Addition polymer – polyethylene. Condensation polymer – nylon.
Structures
→ Polyethylene is made by the addition of ethylene monomers with the following structural formula:
→ Nylon is a condensation polymer made from 1,6-diaminohexane and adipic acid, producing a by-product of water molecules. It has the following structural formula.
Properties
→ Polyethylene is inexpensive, weatherproof and relatively resistant to chemicals.
→ There are two main types of polyethylene which have different properties. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is semi-rigid while high density polyethylene (HDPE) is fluid.
→ Nylon is strong and relatively resistant to moisture absorptivity. It is longer lasting than polyethylene, resistant to chemicals and is used to make nylon fibre.
Applications
→ LDPE is used to produce products such as plastic soft drink bottles, flexible water pipes and cling wrap. HDPE’s fluidity make it an appropriate material for producing shopping bags, plastic crates and drums for storage.
→ Nylon is very versatile in its manufacturing uses. It is a common input for clothing, can be used for injection-moulded parts for vehicles and also as reinforcement for rubber tyres.
→ Nylon is also used as the main material input for nylon thread which has a myriad of uses, including stitching for clothes and the production of rope.
Addition polymer – polyethylene. Condensation polymer – nylon.
Structures
→ Polyethylene is made by the addition of ethylene monomers with the following structural formula:
→ Nylon is a condensation polymer made from 1,6-diaminohexane and adipic acid, producing a by-product of water molecules. It has the following structural formula.
Properties
→ Polyethylene is inexpensive, weatherproof and relatively resistant to chemicals.
→ There are two main types of polyethylene which have different properties. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is semi-rigid while high density polyethylene (HDPE) is fluid.
→ Nylon is strong and relatively resistant to moisture absorptivity. It is longer lasting than polyethylene, resistant to chemicals and is used to make nylon fibre.
Applications
→ LDPE is used to produce products such as plastic soft drink bottles, flexible water pipes and cling wrap. HDPE’s fluidity make it an appropriate material for producing shopping bags, plastic crates and drums for storage.
→ Nylon is very versatile in its manufacturing uses. It is a common input for clothing, can be used for injection-moulded parts for vehicles and also as reinforcement for rubber tyres.
→ Nylon is also used as the main material input for nylon thread which has a myriad of uses, including stitching for clothes and the production of rope.
Which row of the table correctly matches the polymer with its structural feature and property?
Ethylene can be readily transformed into many useful products.
--- 2 WORK AREA LINES (style=lined) ---
--- 8 WORK AREA LINES (style=lined) ---
a. Cracking
b. Vinyl chloride:
Polyvinyl chloride:
a. Cracking
b. Vinyl chloride:
Polyvinyl chloride:
A polymer has the following structure.
Which of the following represents the monomer from which this polymer can be produced?
Which row of the table correctly identifies an application of polystyrene and the reason for its suitability for that application?
| Application | Reason for suitability | |
| A. | Shopping bags | Rigidity |
| B. | Shopping bags | Flexibility |
| C. | Screwdriver handles | Rigidity |
| D. | Screwdriver handles | Flexibility |
Explain the uses of polyethylene and polystyrene in terms of their structures and properties. (4 marks)
Polyethylene:
→ Polyethylene consists of long carbon chains with numerous branches but with no side groups.
→ The branches do not allow the long chains to pack closely together and the weak dispersion forces between chains make it flexible, transparent and soft.
→ These characteristics make polyethylene a great material for making cling-wrap and milk bottles.
Polystyrene:
→ Polystyrene consists of long carbon chains with benzene rings attached to alternative carbon atoms along the chain.
→ The benzene rings create a much stiffer and hardier material with excellent heat insulation and water resistant properties.
→ Polystyrene can be used for screwdriver handles and car battery cases, as well as packaging white goods and other electrical products that can be ruined by water damage.
Polyethylene:
→ Polyethylene consists of long carbon chains with numerous branches but with no side groups.
→ The branches do not allow the long chains to pack closely together and the weak dispersion forces between chains make it flexible, transparent and soft.
→ These characteristics make polyethylene a great material for making cling-wrap and milk bottles.
Polystyrene:
→ Polystyrene consists of long carbon chains with benzene rings attached to alternative carbon atoms along the chain.
→ The benzene rings create a much stiffer and hardier material with excellent heat insulation and water resistant properties.
→ Polystyrene can be used for screwdriver handles and car battery cases, as well as packaging white goods and other electrical products that can be ruined by water damage.
Describe the steps involved in the process of addition polymerisation. (3 marks)
Step 1:
→ An organic peroxide (initiator –
→ An unpaired reactive electron can be seen on the end of the growing chain (initiation).
Step 2:
→ The free radical will then attack another ethylene molecule, increasing the length of the growing polymer chain (propagation).
Step 3:
→ Chain length increases in this fashion until two growing chains combine (termination).
Step 1:
→ An organic peroxide (initiator –
→ An unpaired reactive electron can be seen on the end of the growing chain (initiation).
Step 2:
→ The free radical will then attack another ethylene molecule, increasing the length of the growing polymer chain (propagation).
Step 3:
→ Chain length increases in this fashion until two growing chains combine (termination).
What is the product when propene undergoes addition polymerisation?
A sample of polydifluoroethylene is determined to have an average molar mass of 4.8 × 104 g mol ¯1.
Approximately how many carbon atoms are there in an average molecule?