1. Slime Practical Place 40 cm3 of PVA solution into the plastic cup.
Measure out 10 cm3 of borax solution and add this to the PVA solution.
Stir until the slime forms.

2. L10 Polymers Learning Objectives: Describe what a polymer is.
Describe the process of polymerisation.
Describe the properties and uses for polymers.
Drpsg polymerisation

3. What is a polymer?
A polymer is a long chain molecule that is formed from small molecules linking together.
poly = many
Polymers are made from monomers.
monomer
polymer

4. How are polymers made? Polymers are made from alkenes.
(Remember, one of the products from cracking crude oil is alkenes)

5. Take 3 ethene molecules - C2H4
Drpsg polymerisation

6. Take 3 ethene molecules - C2H4
Drpsg polymerisation

7. Take 3 ethene molecules - C2H4
Each one is unsaturated – it has a double
Covalent carbon – carbon bond
Drpsg polymerisation

8. Take 3 ethene molecules - C2H4
To make polymerisation easy to
understand draw the double bond horizontal
And put everything else above and below
Drpsg polymerisation

9. Imagine opening the double bond so it Forms a new carbon – carbon bond
Open the double bond
Imagine opening the double bond so it
Forms a new carbon – carbon bond
Drpsg polymerisation

10. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

11. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

12. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

13. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

14. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

15. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
This is polyethene with 3 units in – actual examples have 1000’s of units of ethene in
Drpsg polymerisation

16. Overall Equation Ethene, a monomer Poly(ethene), a polymer
Drpsg polymerisation

17. Different representation
the number of repeat units
is shown by n .
(* not needed)
Drpsg polymerisation

18. Ethene – double bond - turns bromine water from orange to colourless
Poly(ethene) – no double bonds
No effect on bromine water

19. Naming
Put “poly” in front of the monomer name.
Formula
Draw the monomer WITHOUT the double bond.
Draw bonds out to the sides and put in brackets.
Put an “n” in subscript after.

20. propene – C3H6
Drpsg polymerisation

21. propene – C3H6
Drpsg polymerisation

22. Each one is unsaturated – it has a double
propene – C3H6
Each one is unsaturated – it has a double
Covalent carbon – carbon bond
Drpsg polymerisation

23. Imagine opening the double bond so it Forms a new carbon – carbon bond
Open the double bond
Imagine opening the double bond so it
Forms a new carbon – carbon bond
Drpsg polymerisation

24. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

25. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

26. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

27. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

28. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

29. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
This is polypropene with 3 units in – actual examples have 1000’s of units of ethene in
Drpsg polymerisation

30. Overall Equation
Propene
Poly(propene)
Drpsg polymerisation

31. Different representation
the number of repeat units
is shown by n .
Drpsg polymerisation

34. Take 3 fluoroethene molecules
Drpsg polymerisation

35. Take 3 fluoroethene molecules
Drpsg polymerisation

36. Take 3 fluoroethene molecules
Each one is unsaturated – it has a double
Covalent carbon – carbon bond
Drpsg polymerisation

37. Imagine opening the double bond so it Forms a new carbon – carbon bond
Open the double bond
Imagine opening the double bond so it
Forms a new carbon – carbon bond
Drpsg polymerisation

38. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

39. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

40. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

41. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

42. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

43. Break the double bond, join it to the next carbon in the chain
Open the double bond
Break the double bond, join it to the next
carbon in the chain
Drpsg polymerisation

44. Overall Equation
Fluoroethene
Poly(fluoroethene)
Drpsg polymerisation

45. Different representation
the number of repeat units
is shown by n .
Drpsg polymerisation

46. Properties of Polymers
The properties of polymers depends on what monomers are used.
Scientists can make new polymers with specific properties.
Usually polymers are stretchy and can be moulded.
Plastics are a type of polymer.
Nylon, polyethene, polystyrene, polyester, pvc (polyvinylchloride)

47. Problems with polymers
Polymers are very useful materials.
However, they are not biodegradable.
This means that polymers do not break down.
Plastic waste can remain in landfills for hundreds of years!

48. HW: Extended Writing
Describe what a polymer is and how polymers are formed. Draw an example of a polymer and describe why they are so useful.
Drpsg polymerisation

49. Poly(e)thene
One important reaction of alkenes involves the joining together of alkene molecules. H C H C H C H C H C
And
lots
more..
thousands
This is called addition polymerisation and is written as:
Pressure
high
temperature
catalyst n
ethene
poly(e)thene
Drpsg polymerisation

50. Polypropene
Ethene is only one alkene. Other unsaturated molecules such as propene, vinyl chloride and styrene can also be polymerised to produce a range of plastics. E.g. propene
Poly(propene) n
propene
Drpsg polymerisation

51. PTFE
Tetrafluoroethene is another alkene that is made into an important plastic used to coat non-stick pans: polytetrafluoroethene or PTFE. n
tetrafluoroethene
Poly(tetrafluoroethene)
or PTFE
Drpsg polymerisation

52. Cl C H Fill in the products that will be obtained from vinyl chloride
Activity
Fill in the products that will be obtained from vinyl chloride
pvc C H Cl n n
Vinyl chloride C Cl H
Drpsg polymerisation