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Synthetic Polymers
Mark Scheme 1
Level IGCSE(9-1)
Subject Chemistry
Exam Board Edexcel IGCSE
Module Double Award (Paper 1C)
Topic Organic Chemistry
Sub-Topic Synthetic Polymers
Booklet Mark Scheme 1

Time Allowed: 81 minutes

Score: /67

Percentage: /100

Grade Boundaries:

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

>90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%

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Question
Answer Notes Marks
number

1 a A (addition) 1

b A (a molecule used to make a polymer) 1

c i propene 1

ii M1 chain of two carbons joined by single bond 2

AND both continuation bonds

M2 one CH3 group in any position

AND three H atoms

Do not penalise bond to H of CH3

Reject any structure with double bond
Allow multiple repeat units if correct
Three or more CH2 groups linked together scores
0/2
Ignore brackets and subscripted n

d Accept Cl in any position 1

Ignore bond angles
Ignore brackets / n
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Question
Answer Notes Marks
number

1 e i M1 (polymer) breaks down / decomposes / Do not penalise compound / object / molecule / 2

decays substance in place of polymer
Reject element in place of polymer
Ignore rots / degrades / digests / disintegrates
If reference to not breaking down etc, only M2
can be awarded

M2 by bacteria / microbes / microorganisms / Accept biologically / naturally

decomposers /enzymes
M2 DEP on M1 or near miss

ii inert(ness) / unreactive / OWTTE Ignore do not react with named chemical 1

Ignore references to bond strengths / bond
breaking
Total 9 marks
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Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
2 (a) (i)
ignore bond angles 1
Ignore brackets and n
Do not penalise Fl

(ii) M1 – a long chain (molecule) accept large molecule / macromolecule 1

M2 – formed when (many) small Accept react/bond/add/link for join 1

molecules/monomers
join (together)

(iii) poly(tetrafluoroethene)/poly(tetrafluoroethylene) accept names without brackets 1

Ignore minor spelling errors
Ignore PTFE
accept Teflon

(b) M1 (name) – ethene accept ethylene 1

M2 (formula) – C2H4 reject structural or displayed formula 1

Penalise inappropriate use of upper and lower
case letters or numbers
No penalty for correct answers on wrong lines
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(c) M1 – (they) do not biodegrade accept not broken down by bacteria / 1

microbes / decomposers / microorganisms /
enzymes
M2 – (because) they are inert / do not react / 1
are unreactive ignore do not react with any named chemical
ignore references to bond strengths / bond
breaking

Mark independently
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Question
Answer Accept Reject Marks
number
3 (a) M1 – continuation bonds not 1
going through brackets

M2 – any suitable use, eg: 1

• plastic bags just plastic
• buckets/bowls
• storage bottles (for food, drinks, chemicals)
• garden furniture
• gas pipes
• rubbish bins
• storage tanks for fuel
• cling film
• packaging
• clothing
• insulation (for electric cables)
Please research any unfamiliar use
polypropene 1
M3 – poly(propene) polypropylene

M4 - methyl group attached 1

to any carbon
methyl group displayed

IGNORE bond angles

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(b) Any two from OWTTE

M1 – (many) small molecules/monomers join up
M2 - double bond becomes single bond/ it becomes double bond breaks
saturated and single bond forms
M3 – increase in mass/chain length/size

(c) (i) inert(ness) unreactive/non-polar 1

IGNORE strong bonds / long chains

(ii) M1 – produces greenhouse gases/toxic carbon dioxide 1

gases/poisonous gases
M2 – (landfill) uses up land / takes up space 1
OR new sites hard to find

(Total marks for Question 3 = 9 marks)

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Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
4 (a) (the molecule) contains a (carbon to accept ‘multiple bond’ 1
carbon) double bond ignore refs to single bonds

(b) (i) C8H18 and C2H4 Ignore names of compounds 1

(ii) M1 600-700ºC 2

M2 silica / alumina (catalyst) accept ‘aluminium oxide / silicon dioxide /

aluminosilicate / zeolite’
accept correct formulae

(c) (i) M1 (they have) the same molecular allow ‘both have same number of carbon and 2
formula hydrogen (atoms as each other)’

accept ‘the atoms are arranged differently’

M2 (but have) different structural
formulae /
(ii) displayed formulae / structures 1
accept

ignore bond angles

accept fully displayed formula
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4 (d) (i) poly(propene) / polypropene accept ‘polypropylene’ 1

(ii) ignore brackets and ‘n’ 2

M1 correct structure
M2 extension bonds M2 dep on M1 except award M2 if >1 repeat unit
given

(e) penalise incorrect use of upper / lower case 1

letters and subscripts
penalise bonds to incorrect atoms
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Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
5 a reference to line/curve/temperature Ignore reference to correlation 1
/graph/it Ignore has not reached zero / x-axis
AND Ignore does not become
not reached minimum / not constant / not
level
/not horizontal /still falling
/decreasing/changing

b (better) insulator (than glass) Accept equivalents such as prevents heat from 1
OR entering / keeps out heat better
poor conductor (of heat) Allow stops heat escaping / traps heat
Reject references to keeping temperature constant
Ignore references to breaking glass

c i effervescence / fizzing / bubbles Accept carbon dioxide gas 1

OR Accept gas given off/evolved/formed
colourless solution/liquid formed Ignore identity of gas
Accept solid disappears/dissolves
Ignore hissing and other sounds

ii Neutralisation Accept acid-base / acid-alkali 1

endothermic M1 and M2 independent 1

Accept answers in either order
Do not penalise contradictions such as exothermic
and endothermic – this answer is worth 1 mark
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Question
Answer Notes Marks
number

5 d i product formulae or names / Horizontal line not needed 1

products (word) above Ignore formula errors and one or
reactants two missing product(s)
Ignore curves and intermediates

ii (approximately) vertical line Ignore arrowheads on vertical line 1

between reactants and Ignore sign of ∆H
products / between two levels Mark can be awarded for
AND exothermic reaction
labelled ∆H / energy change / Accept 2310 or any other number
heat change / enthalpy change in place of ∆H
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Question
Answer Notes Marks
number

5 (e) i temperature change = (–)5.5 Award M1 for 5.5 anywhere 1

(°C)
heat change (= 100 × 4.2 × CQ on candidate temperature 1
5.5) = 2310/2300 (J) change, provided other values
correct
Accept answer in kJ
Ignore signs
Correct final answer scores 2
2.31 (J) scores 1 mark if M1 not
awarded

ii concentration (of vinegar / Ignore strength 1

(ethanoic) acid / CH3COOH) Ignore reference to Mr
Accept concentration even if in an
incorrect expression
Total 10
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Question
Expected Answer Accept Reject Marks
number

6 (a) (i) M1 contains carbon and hydrogen (atoms / C and H for carbon and ions / carbon 1
elements / particles) hydrogen molecules / hydrogen
molecules / H2 /
mixture of C and H

M2 only other equivalent 1

words, eg solely /
entirely / completely

M2 DEP on M1, but allow M2 if molecules / ions /

mixture used in M1

(ii) C10H22 H22C10 Reject superscripts / 1

lower case c or h / full
IGNORE structural formula size numbers
(b) (i) addition additional 1

(ii) M1 one of the bonds in the double bond breaks double bond breaks 1
/ double bond becomes
single bond
changes (from
unsaturated) to
saturated
M2 (many) ethene(s)/molecules/monomers join 1
(together)

OR

(many) ethene(s)/molecules/monomers form a

chain
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Question
Expected Answer Accept Reject Marks
number

6 (c) Any 4 from:

• produces smaller / shorter (chain) molecules

• smaller / shorter (chain) molecules more ORA

useful (as fuels) / have greater demand low(er) demand
products converted to
high(er) demand
products
• smaller / shorter (chain) molecules burn
more cleanly /are used to make
petrol/diesel/fuel for vehicles

• crude oil richer in / has a surplus of long ORA

(chain) molecules

• produces alkenes / any named alkene

• alkenes used to make alcohol / polymers / 4

plastics / chemical feedstock / any named
addition polymer
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Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
7 a hydrogen / H2 Ignore H 1

b only single bonds (between carbon atoms) ignore between C and H 1

/single bond(s) between carbon atoms Accept no double bond(s) / no multiple
bond(s)
Ignore answers that refer to numbers of
hydrogens

c i Accept Br atoms in any position provided one 1

on each carbon

ii C (the product of the reaction is colourless) 1

d M1 for 4 × C AND 6 × H and 2 × CH3 2

M2 for extension bonds and two CH3 groups
on alternate carbon atoms (can be both above
or both below carbon chain)
M2 DEP on M1
Do not penalise bonds to H of CH3
Ignore brackets and subscripted n
If any double bond shown, then 0/2

e Reject any extension bonds 1

Ignore bond angles
Do not penalise more than one correct
structure
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Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
7 f i (polymer) breaks down / decomposes / Do not penalise compound / object / 1
decays molecule / substance in place of polymer
Reject element in place of polymer
Ignore rots / degrades / digests /
disintegrate
If reference to not breaking down etc, only
M2 can be awarded
by bacteria / microbes / microorganisms Ignore naturally / enzymes 1

ii inert / unreactive / OWTTE Ignore do not react with named chemical 1

Ignore references to bond strengths / bond
breaking

Total 10 marks