POLYMERS
A guide for GCSE students
KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING
2010
SPECIFICATIONS
POLYMERS
INTRODUCTION
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...
www.knockhardy.org.uk
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.
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.
www.knockhardy.org.uk/gcse.htm
WHAT IS POLYMERISATION?
POLYMERISATION
A process in which small molecules called monomers join
together into large molecules consisting of repeating units.
POLYMERISATION
A process in which small molecules called monomers join
together into large molecules consisting of repeating units.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
n represents a ethene poly(ethene) the same as the
large number number of original
MONOMER POLYMER molecules
POLYMERISATION
The animation shows the monomers turning into the polymer
OTHER POLYMERISATION REACTIONS
ETHENE POLY(ETHENE)
PROPENE POLY(PROPENE)
CHLOROETHENE POLY(CHLOROETHENE)
POLYVINYLCHLORIDE PVC
TETRAFLUOROETHENE POLY(TETRAFLUOROETHENE)
PTFE “Teflon”
SOURCES OF MONOMERS
SOURCES OF MONOMERS
FROM CRUDE OIL
SOURCES OF MONOMERS
FROM CRUDE OIL
CRUDE OIL IS FRACTIONALLY DISTILLED
HEAVIER HYDROCARBON FRACTIONS ARE LESS USEFUL
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
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)
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)
ALKENES ARE AN IMPORTANT PRODUCT OF CRACKING
ETHENE (C2H4) IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ALKENE
PROBLEMS WITH POLYMERS
PROBLEMS WITH POLYMERS
Although polymers derived from alkenes are invaluable to modern
society, their disposal creates widespread problems.
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
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
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
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
POLYMERISATION OF ALKENES
QUESTIONS
POLYMERISATION OF ALKENES
CAN YOU SPOT THE ORIGINAL ALKENE MONOMER?
POLYMERISATION OF ALKENES
CAN YOU SPOT THE ORIGINAL ALKENE MONOMER?
For more detailed information on
FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION AND
CRACKING, please see the appropriate
Powerpoint on the Knockhardy GCSE site.
www.knockhardy.org.uk/gcse.htm
POLYMERS
THE END
©2011 JONATHAN HOPTON & KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING
