IGCSE CHEMISTRY
SECTION 5 LESSON 3
Content
The iGCSE
Section 1 Principles of Chemistry
Chemistry
course Section 2 Chemistry of the Elements
Section 3 Organic Chemistry
Section 4 Physical Chemistry
Section 5 Chemistry in Society
Content
Section 5
a) Extraction and uses of
metals
Chemistry b) Crude oil
in industry c) Synthetic polymers
d) The industrial manufacture
of chemicals
Lesson 3 c) Synthetic polymers
5.15 understand that an addition polymer is formed by
joining up many small molecules called monomers
c) Synthetic
5.16 draw the repeat unit of addition polymers, including
poly(ethene), poly(propene) and poly(chloroethene)
polymers 5.17 deduce the structure of a monomer from the repeat
unit of an addition polymer
5.18 describe some uses for polymers, including
poly(ethene), poly(propene) and poly(chloroethene)
5.19 explain that addition polymers are hard to dispose of
as their inertness means that they do not easily
biodegrade
5.20 understand that some polymers, such as nylon,
form by a different process called condensation
polymerisation
5.21 understand that condensation polymerisation
produces a small molecule, such as water, as well as the
polymer.
The Monomer
Do you
remember
ethene?
The Monomer
Do you
remember
ethene?
Alkene
C2H4
The Monomer
Do you
remember
ethene?
Alkene
C2H4
Unsaturated hydrocarbon
because it has a double bond
The Monomer
Can be
produced by
the Do you
cracking of
crude oil
remember
products ethene?
Alkene
C2H4
Unsaturated hydrocarbon
because it has a double bond
The Monomer
Can be
produced by n
j o i
the Do you c an
cracking of l e s a in
remember ecu c h
crude oil o l g e r R S
products ethene? e m l n
o YM E
h e n m OL
t
e of o r P
u a l t e d
id
v th e r a l l
n di s c Alkene
e
I tog cule
o le C2H4
m
Unsaturated hydrocarbon
because it has a double bond
Polymerization
The process of joining single
monomers together to form
longer chain polymers is
known as polymerization.
Polymerization
The process of joining single
monomers together to form
longer chain polymers is
known as polymerization.
Pressure
+
Catalyst
Polymerization
The process of joining single
monomers together to form
longer chain polymers is
known as polymerization.
Pressure
Catalyst
+
Polymerization
The process of joining single
monomers together to form
longer chain polymers is
known as polymerization.
Pressure
Catalyst
+
Polyethene molecule
(or “polythene”)
Single ethene molecules
Polymerization
The process of joining single
monomers together to form
longer chain polymers is
known as polymerization.
Polye
t
an av henPressure
e
erag is a wax
e rel -like
of ab a tive solid
ouCatalyst
t 30, m olecu with
+ 000 la
– 50, r mass
000
Polyethene molecule
(or “polythene”)
Single ethene molecules
Polymerization
This process is known as addition polymerization
because the polymer has the same basic formula
as the monomer.
Polymerization
This process is known as addition polymerization
because the polymer has the same basic formula
as the monomer.
Polyethene is one of a large group of synthetic
substances that we refer to as PLASTICS.
PLASTICS - advantages
PLASTICS - advantages
Easily shaped and
moulded, and can be
extruded, injection
moulded and vacuum
formed
PLASTICS - advantages
Easily shaped and They are relatively
moulded, and can be inexpensive, being
extruded, injection produced as a by-
moulded and vacuum product of oil
formed refining.
PLASTICS - advantages
Easily shaped and They are relatively
moulded, and can be inexpensive, being
extruded, injection produced as a by-
moulded and vacuum product of oil
formed refining.
They are durable, and
do not rust, corrode
or decay.
PLASTICS - advantages
Easily shaped and They are relatively
moulded, and can be inexpensive, being
extruded, injection produced as a by-
moulded and vacuum product of oil
formed refining.
They are durable, and They are lighter than
do not rust, corrode steel, wood or stone.
or decay.
PLASTICS - advantages
Easily shaped and They are relatively
moulded, and can be inexpensive, being
extruded, injection produced as a by-
moulded and vacuum product of oil
formed refining.
They are durable, and They are lighter than
do not rust, corrode steel, wood or stone.
or decay.
They are thermal and
electrical insulators.
PLASTICS - disadvantages
PLASTICS - disadvantages
They are not
biodegradable. This
means that they do not
decay naturally
PLASTICS - disadvantages
They are not
biodegradable. This
means that they do not
decap naturally
Many plastics produce
poisonous fumes when
they burn.
Other examples of addition polymers
Other examples of addition polymers
Propene Polypropene
C3H6 or polypropylene
Use: washing-up
bowls
Other examples of addition polymers
Chloroethene Polychloroethene
(Vinyl chloride) or PVC
C2H3Cl Use: waterproof
material
Uses for Polymers
POLYMER Properties Uses
Uses for Polymers
POLYMER Properties Uses
Very cheap Plastic bags,
Polythene and strong. bottles,
Easily moulded. buckets
Uses for Polymers
POLYMER Properties Uses
Very cheap Plastic bags,
Polythene and strong. bottles,
Easily moulded. buckets
Polyvinyl Forms strong
Electric wire
waterproof
chloride sheets. Hard but
insulation,
plastic sheets
(PVC) flexible.
Uses for Polymers
POLYMER Properties Uses
Very cheap Plastic bags,
Polythene and strong. bottles,
Easily moulded. buckets
Polyvinyl Forms strong
Electric wire
waterproof
chloride sheets. Hard but
insulation,
plastic sheets
(PVC) flexible.
Cheap, easily
moulded. Can be Packaging, radio
Polystyrene expanded into outer cases
foam
Uses for Polymers
POLYMER Properties Uses
Very cheap Plastic bags,
Polythene and strong. bottles,
Easily moulded. buckets
Polyvinyl Forms strong
Electric wire
waterproof
chloride sheets. Hard but
insulation,
plastic sheets
(PVC) flexible.
Cheap, easily
moulded. Can be Packaging, radio
Polystyrene expanded into outer cases
foam
Resistant to
Trays, sinks,
Polypropene high bottles, funnels
temperatures
CH3
C = C
So that was
H
addition
polymerization.
What’s all this I
hear about
condensation
polymerization?
CH3
C = C
So that was
H
addition
polymerization.
What’s all this I
hear about
condensation
polymerization?
What’s a
condensation
reaction?
Condensation Reaction:
“Two molecules combine
with the loss of a smaller
molecule, which may be
water”.
Condensation Reaction:
“Two molecules combine
with the loss of a smaller
molecule, which may be
water”.
The polymer does not have the same
empirical formula as the monomers.
For example, nylon is
made by condensation
polymerization.
Hexane-1,6-diamine
Adipyl chloride
For example, nylon is
made by condensation
polymerization.
Rotate
Nylon
Hexane-1,6-diamine
Adipyl chloride
For example, nylon is
made by condensation
polymerization.
Rotate
Nylon
Hexane-1,6-diamine +
adipyl chloride
nylon + hydrogen chloride Hexane-1,6-diamine
Adipyl chloride
End of Section 5 Lesson 3
In this lesson we have covered:
The monomer
Addition polymerization
Condensation polymerization
CH3 H Cl H Cl
C = C
C C C C
H
H Cl H H H H
C = C
H H
