1. A guide for GCSE students KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING
POLYMERS
A guide for GCSE students
2010 SPECIFICATIONS
KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING

2. POLYMERS INTRODUCTION www.knockhardy.org.uk
This Powerpoint show is one of several produced to help students understand selected GCSE Chemistry topics. It is based on the requirements of the AQA specification but is suitable for other examination boards.
Individual students may use the material at home for revision purposes and it can also prove useful for classroom teaching with an interactive white board.
Accompanying notes on this, and the full range of AS and A2 Chemistry topics, are available from the KNOCKHARDY WEBSITE at...
All diagrams, photographs and any animations in this Powerpoint are original and created by Jonathan Hopton. Permission must be obtained for their use in any work that is distributed for financial gain.

3. POLYMERS CONTENTS What is polymerisation? Types of polymerisation
Addition polymerisation of ethene
Other polymerisation examples
Sources of monomers
Disposal of polymers
Questions
For more detailed information on fractional distillation, cracking and the properties of hydrocarbons such as alkanes and alkenes, see the appropriate Powerpoint on the Knockhardy GCSE site.

4. WHAT IS POLYMERISATION?

5. POLYMERISATION A process in which small molecules called monomers join
together into large molecules consisting of repeating units.

6. There are two basic types
POLYMERISATION
A process in which small molecules called monomers join
together into large molecules consisting of repeating units.
There are two basic types

7. There are two basic types
POLYMERISATION
A process in which small molecules called monomers join
together into large molecules consisting of repeating units.
There are two basic types
ADDITION all the atoms in the monomer are used to form the polymer
examples poly(ethene), polystyrene, pvc, ptfe

8. There are two basic types
POLYMERISATION
A process in which small molecules called monomers join
together into large molecules consisting of repeating units.
There are two basic types
ADDITION all the atoms in the monomer are used to form the polymer
examples poly(ethene), polystyrene, pvc, ptfe
CONDENSATION monomers join up the with expulsion of small molecules
not all the original atoms are present in the polymer
examples nylon, polyesters, pva

9. There are two basic types
POLYMERISATION
A process in which small molecules called monomers join
together into large molecules consisting of repeating units.
There are two basic types
ADDITION all the atoms in the monomer are used to form the polymer
examples poly(ethene), polystyrene, pvc, ptfe
CONDENSATION monomers join up the with expulsion of small molecules
not all the original atoms are present in the polymer
examples nylon, polyesters, pva
ALKENES UNDERGO ADDITION POLYMERISATION

10. POLYMERISATION
• during polymerisation, alkenes undergo an addition reaction
• all the atoms in the original alkenes are used to form the polymer
• long hydrocarbon chains are formed

11. POLYMERISATION
• during polymerisation, alkenes undergo an addition reaction
• all the atoms in the original alkenes are used to form the polymer
• long hydrocarbon chains are formed

12. POLYMERISATION
• during polymerisation, alkenes undergo an addition reaction
• all the atoms in the original alkenes are used to form the polymer
• long hydrocarbon chains are formed
• the diagram shows… the original monomer and
the repeating unit in the polymer
ethene poly(ethene)
MONOMER POLYMER

13. POLYMERISATION
• during polymerisation, alkenes undergo an addition reaction
• all the atoms in the original alkenes are used to form the polymer
• long hydrocarbon chains are formed
• the diagram shows… the original monomer and
the repeating unit in the polymer
the number of repeating units is the same as the number of original molecules
n represents a large number
ethene poly(ethene)
MONOMER POLYMER

14. The animation shows the monomers turning into the polymer
POLYMERISATION
The animation shows the monomers turning into the polymer

15. OTHER POLYMERISATION REACTIONS
ETHENE
POLY(ETHENE)
PROPENE
POLY(PROPENE)
CHLOROETHENE
POLY(CHLOROETHENE)
POLYVINYLCHLORIDE PVC
TETRAFLUOROETHENE
POLY(TETRAFLUOROETHENE)
PTFE “Teflon”

16. SOURCES OF MONOMERS

17. SOURCES OF MONOMERS
FROM CRUDE OIL

18. SOURCES OF MONOMERS FROM CRUDE OIL CRUDE OIL IS FRACTIONALLY DISTILLED
HEAVIER HYDROCARBON FRACTIONS ARE LESS USEFUL

19. SOURCES OF MONOMERS FROM CRUDE OIL CRUDE OIL IS FRACTIONALLY DISTILLED
HEAVIER HYDROCARBON FRACTIONS ARE LESS USEFUL
THEIR MOLECULES ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO SMALLER ONES
THIS PROCESS IS KNOWN AS CRACKING

20. SOURCES OF MONOMERS FROM CRUDE OIL CRUDE OIL IS FRACTIONALLY DISTILLED
HEAVIER HYDROCARBON FRACTIONS ARE LESS USEFUL
THEIR MOLECULES ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO SMALLER ONES
THIS PROCESS IS KNOWN AS CRACKING
ETHENE
(an alkene)

21. SOURCES OF MONOMERS FROM CRUDE OIL CRUDE OIL IS FRACTIONALLY DISTILLED
HEAVIER HYDROCARBON FRACTIONS ARE LESS USEFUL
THEIR MOLECULES ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO SMALLER ONES
THIS PROCESS IS KNOWN AS CRACKING
ALKENES ARE AN IMPORTANT PRODUCT OF CRACKING
ETHENE (C2H4) IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ALKENE
ETHENE
(an alkene)

22. PROBLEMS WITH POLYMERS

23. PROBLEMS WITH POLYMERS
Although polymers derived from alkenes are invaluable to modern society, their disposal creates widespread problems.

24. PROBLEMS WITH POLYMERS
Although polymers derived from alkenes are invaluable to modern society, their disposal creates widespread problems.
• they are unreactive to most chemicals
• they are unreactive to bacteria (non-biodegradable)
• if they are just discarded they add to the landfill problem

25. PROBLEMS WITH POLYMERS
Although polymers derived from alkenes are invaluable to modern society, their disposal creates widespread problems.
• they are unreactive to most chemicals
• they are unreactive to bacteria (non-biodegradable)
• if they are just discarded they add to the landfill problem
OPTIONS

26. PROBLEMS WITH POLYMERS OPTIONS
Although polymers derived from alkenes are invaluable to modern society, their disposal creates widespread problems.
• they are unreactive to most chemicals
• they are unreactive to bacteria (non-biodegradable)
• if they are just discarded they add to the landfill problem
OPTIONS
recycling high cost of collection and re-processing
incinerate saves on landfill sites and produces energy but…
produces toxic fumes
Plastic bags are being made from polymers and
cornstarch so that they break down more easily

27. POLYMERISATION OF ALKENES
QUESTIONS

28. POLYMERISATION OF ALKENES CAN YOU SPOT THE ORIGINAL ALKENE MONOMER?

29. POLYMERISATION OF ALKENES CAN YOU SPOT THE ORIGINAL ALKENE MONOMER?

30. For more detailed information on FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION AND CRACKING, please see the appropriate Powerpoint on the Knockhardy GCSE site.

31. ©2011 JONATHAN HOPTON & KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING
POLYMERS
THE END
©2011 JONATHAN HOPTON & KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING