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CAIE IGCSE Chemistry 11.8 Polymers Questions

Practise deriving monomers and repeat units, distinguishing addition from condensation polymerisation and identifying ester, amide or carbohydrate linkages.

Syllabus
2026–2028
Course
Chemistry 0620

Exam points

  • derive an addition-polymer repeat unit by opening the monomer carbon-carbon double bond
  • recover a monomer from an addition repeat unit by restoring the double bond and side groups
  • identify condensation repeat units and ester, amide or oxygen linkages from structures

Covered syllabus points

11.8.1—Polymers as large molecules built up11.8.2—Formation of poly(ethene) as an11.8.3—Plastics are made from polymers11.8.4—Properties of plastics have11.8.5—Environmental challenges caused by11.8.6—Repeat units and/or linkages in11.8.7—Deduce the structure or repeat unit of11.8.8—Deduce the structure or repeat unit of11.8.9—Differences between addition and11.8.10—And draw the structure of: (a) nylon11.8.11—PET can be converted back into11.8.12—Proteins as natural polyamides and11.8.13—And draw the structure of proteins as

Question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

Part of the structure of a very large molecule is shown.

Figure for Question 1 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry

Which term describes the small unit used to make this molecule?

A

hydrocarbon

B

monomer

C

polymer

D

saturated

Question 2

[Maximum number: 1]

The flow diagram shows how poly(ethene) may be made from petroleum.

Figure for Question 2 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry

What are stages 1,2 and 3 ?

1

2

3

cracking

polymerisation

fractional distillation

cracking

fractional distillation

polymerisation

fractional distillation

cracking

polymerisation

fractional distillation

polymerisation

cracking

Question 3

[Maximum number: 6]

Question (a)

(a)

Part of the synthetic polymer, nylon, is shown in the diagram.

Figure for Question (a) — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry
[ 4 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Circle one amide linkage on the diagram.

[ 1 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

Complete the structures of the two monomers that react to form nylon.

Figure for Question (ii) — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry
Figure for Question (ii) — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry
[ 2 ]

Question (iii)

(iii)

Name the other product formed when nylon is produced.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Items made from nylon are often disposed of by burying them in the ground. This is called landfill.

Why is the disposal of nylon using landfill a problem?

[ 1 ]

Question (c)

(c)

Give the name of a natural polymer.

[ 1 ]

Question 4

[Maximum number: 1]

Items made from nylon are often disposed of by burying them in the ground. This is called landfill.

Why is the disposal of nylon using landfill a problem?

Question 5

[Maximum number: 1]

Which polymer structure has the same linkages as Terylene?

A

A

C

C

B

B

D

D

Question 6

[Maximum number: 3]

Many organic compounds contain carbon and hydrogen only.

Fig. 7.1 shows a section of polymer Q.

Fig. 7.1

Fig. 7.1

- Draw the displayed formula of the monomer that forms polymer Q.
- Name the monomer used to form polymer Q.

Question 7

[Maximum number: 1]

Hydrolysis of polymer P produces the three compounds shown.

Figure for Question 7 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry
Figure for Question 7 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry
Figure for Question 7 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry

What is the structure of polymer P ?

Question 8

[Maximum number: 1]

The structure of a synthetic polymer is shown.

Figure for Question 8 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry

The structure shows that it is a …….1……\ldots \ldots .1 \ldots \ldots. . It is formed by …….2……\ldots \ldots .2 \ldots \ldots polymerisation.
Which words complete gaps 1 and 2?

1

2

polyamide

addition

polyamide

condensation

polyester

addition

polyester

condensation

Question 9

[Maximum number: 1]

What is the correct structure of PET?

A
Figure for Question 9 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry — Option A
B
Figure for Question 9 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry — Option B
C
Figure for Question 9 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry — Option C
D
Figure for Question 9 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry — Option D

Question 10

[Maximum number: 1]

Which statement about the polymer PET is correct?

A

It can be broken down into its monomers and re-polymerised.

B

It is an addition polymer.

C

It is a polyamide.

D

It is made from amino acid monomers.

Question 11

[Maximum number: 1]

Which substance is a natural polymer?

A

ethene

B

Terylene

C

nylon

D

protein

Question 12

[Maximum number: 1]

Which structure represents a protein?

A
Figure for Question 12 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry — Option A
B
Figure for Question 12 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry — Option B
C
Figure for Question 12 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry — Option C
D
Figure for Question 12 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry — Option D
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