Organic Molecules
ORGANIC MACROMOLECULES
1. What is a polymer?
2. Man-made polymers have been studied since 1832. Today, the polymer industry has grown to be larger than the aluminum, copper and steel industries combined. Polymers already have a range of applications that far exceeds that of any other class of material available to man. Give examples where polymers are applied in each of these categories:
a) Agriculture b) Medicine c) Consumer Science d) Industry e) Sports
3. Study the following polymer structure: –CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2- CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2– a) Give the name of this low density polymer. b) What is the polymer identification code for this substance? c) Write the name and condensed structure of the monomer units of this polymer. d) Name two properties of this polymer. e) Name two uses for this type of polymer.
4. a) What is addition polymerisation? b) Polyethylene is an example of an addition polymer. Describe what happens to the ethene molecule during this process. c) The mechanism of addition polymerisation consists of three steps. Name each step and give a brief description of each.
5. a) What is condensation polymerisation? b) Where is condensation polymerisation used?
6. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: Over the past few decades, the use of synthetic polymers in disposable consumer goods has grown tremendously. This growth is proving to be taxing on the waste disposal system, consuming a large fraction of available landfill space. The raw materials for these polymers are obtained from petroleum. To reduce the demand for landfill space and the consumption of limited petroleum reserves, the recycling of polymers has become a subject of concern. One of the problems faced in recycling polymers is the
1. What is a polymer?
2. Man-made polymers have been studied since 1832. Today, the polymer industry has grown to be larger than the aluminum, copper and steel industries combined. Polymers already have a range of applications that far exceeds that of any other class of material available to man. Give examples where polymers are applied in each of these categories:
a) Agriculture b) Medicine c) Consumer Science d) Industry e) Sports
3. Study the following polymer structure: –CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2- CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2– a) Give the name of this low density polymer. b) What is the polymer identification code for this substance? c) Write the name and condensed structure of the monomer units of this polymer. d) Name two properties of this polymer. e) Name two uses for this type of polymer.
4. a) What is addition polymerisation? b) Polyethylene is an example of an addition polymer. Describe what happens to the ethene molecule during this process. c) The mechanism of addition polymerisation consists of three steps. Name each step and give a brief description of each.
5. a) What is condensation polymerisation? b) Where is condensation polymerisation used?
6. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: Over the past few decades, the use of synthetic polymers in disposable consumer goods has grown tremendously. This growth is proving to be taxing on the waste disposal system, consuming a large fraction of available landfill space. The raw materials for these polymers are obtained from petroleum. To reduce the demand for landfill space and the consumption of limited petroleum reserves, the recycling of polymers has become a subject of concern. One of the problems faced in recycling polymers is the