11.8 Polymers
- Syllabus
- 0620–2026–2027
- Topic
- 11.8
- Level
- —
11.8.1—Polymers as large molecules built up
- Define polymers as large molecules built up from many smaller molecules called monomers
11.8.2—Formation of poly(ethene) as an
- Describe formation of poly(ethene) as an example of addition polymerisation using ethene monomers
11.8.3—Plastics are made from polymers
- State: plastics are made from polymers
11.8.4—Properties of plastics have
- Describe how the properties of plastics have implications for their disposal
11.8.5—Environmental challenges caused by
- Describe environmental challenges caused by plastics, (a) disposal in landfill sites (b) accumulation in oceans (c) formation of toxic gases from burning
11.8.6—Repeat units and/or linkages in
- Identify the repeat units and/or linkages in addition polymers and in condensation polymers
11.8.7—Deduce the structure or repeat unit of
- Deduce the structure or repeat unit of an addition polymer from a given alkene and vice versa
11.8.8—Deduce the structure or repeat unit of
- Deduce the structure or repeat unit of a condensation polymer from given monomers and vice versa, (a) polyamides from a dicarboxylic acid and a diamine (b) polyesters from a dicarboxylic acid and a diol
11.8.9—Differences between addition and
- Describe differences between addition and condensation polymerisation
11.8.10—And draw the structure of: (a) nylon
- Describe and draw the structure of: (a) nylon, a polyamide C O C O C C OO N H N H N H N H (b) PET, a polyester C O C O C C OO O OO O The full name for PET, polyethylene terephthalate, is not required
11.8.11—PET can be converted back into
- State: PET can be converted back into monomers and re-polymerised
11.8.12—Proteins as natural polyamides and
- Describe proteins as natural polyamides and that they are formed from amino acid monomers with the general structure: H O H OH N H C C R where R represents different types of side- chain
11.8.13—And draw the structure of proteins as
- Describe and draw the structure of proteins as: N H C O N H C O N H C O
Objective notes
13 learning objectivesConceptIGCSE Chemistry