1 There are two types of polymerisation, addition and condensation.

(a) Explain the difference between these two types of polymerisation.

[2]

(b) Some plastics, formed by polymerisation, are non-biodegradable.

Describe two pollution problems that are caused by non-biodegradable plastics.

[2]

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 (c) The polymer known as PVA is used in paints and adhesives. Its structural formula is shown
below.

―CH2―CH―CH2―CH―
│ │
OCOCH3 OCOCH3

Deduce the structural formula of its monomer.

[1]

(d) A condensation polymer can be made from the following monomers.

HOOC(CH2)4COOH and H2N(CH2)6NH2

Draw the structural formula of this polymer.

[3]

[Total: 8]

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2 (a) Synthetic polymers are disposed of in landfill sites and by burning.

(i) Describe two problems caused by the disposal of synthetic polymers in landfill sites.

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....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Describe one problem caused by burning synthetic polymers.

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) State two uses of synthetic polymers.

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(c) The structural formulae of two synthetic polymers are given below.

CH2 CH CH2 CH
polymer A
CH3 CH3

O O O O
polymer B
C C O O C C O O

(i) Draw the structural formula of the monomer of polymer A.

[2]

(ii) Identify the functional group circled in polymer B.

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) Deduce the two types of organic compound which have reacted to form polymer B.

....................................................................................................................................... [2]

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 (d) Explain the difference between addition and condensation polymers. Classify A and B as
either addition or condensation polymers.

....................................................................................................................................................

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.............................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 12]

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3 (a) Glucose, sucrose and starch are all carbohydrates. Their formulae are:

glucose, C6H12O6,
sucrose, C12H22O11,
starch, (C6H10O5)n.

(i) Identify two common features in the formulae of these carbohydrates.

.............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Draw the structure of a complex carbohydrate, such as starch. The formula of glucose,
can be represented by
HO OH

Include three glucose units in the structure.

[2]

(b) Starch hydrolyses to glucose in the presence of the enzyme, amylase.

What is meant by the term enzyme?

.............................................................................................................................................. [2]

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 (c) The effect of temperature on this reaction can be studied by the experiment shown below.
Starch and iodine form a blue-black colour.
Glucose and iodine do not form a blue-black colour.

teat pipette to add a

few drops of iodine

water at different
temperatures

aqueous starch and

amylase (enzyme)

The experiment is set up as in the diagram and the time measured for the mixture to change
from blue-black to colourless. The experiment is repeated at different temperatures.
Typical results of this experiment are given in the table below.

time for blue-black

temperature
experiment colour to disappear
/ °C
/ min

A 20 30
B 40 15
C 70 remained blue-black

(i) Put the experiments in order of reaction rate – slowest first and fastest last.

....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Explain why the reaction rates in experiments A and B are different.

.............................................................................................................................................

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....................................................................................................................................... [3]

(iii) Suggest why the colour remains blue-black in experiment C.

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 12]

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4 Polymers are made by the polymerisation of simple molecules called monomers.

(a)
a) The structural formula of a polymer is given below.

CH CH

CH3 CH3 n

This polymer is made by addition polymerisation. Draw the structural formula of its
monomer.

[1]

(ii) The two monomers shown below form a nylon which is a condensation polymer.

H 2N NH2

HOOC COOH

Draw its structural formula showing one repeat unit of the polymer.

[3]

(iii) Name the natural macromolecule which contains the same linkage as nylon.

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iv) Explain the difference between addition polymerisation and condensation polymerisation.

.............................................................................................................................................

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....................................................................................................................................... [2]
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 (b) Many polymers are non-biodegradable.

(i) Explain the term non-biodegradable.

.............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) State three problems caused by the disposal of non-biodegradable polymers.

.............................................................................................................................................

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....................................................................................................................................... [3]

(c) Storage tanks for cold water are now made from polymers because they are cheaper than
metal tanks. Suggest two other advantages of making cold water tanks from polymers.

....................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 14]

PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
5 Many monomer molecules react together to form one molecule of a polymer. This reaction is
called polymerisation.

(a) The structural formula of the polymer, poly(chloroethene), is given below. This polymer
is also known as PVC.

H H

C C

H Cl n

(i) A major use of PVC is insulation of electric cables. PVC is a poor conductor of
electricity.
Suggest another property which makes it suitable for this use.

.............................................................................................................................. [1]

(ii) One way of disposing of waste PVC is by burning it. This method has the disadvantage
that poisonous gases are formed.
Suggest two poisonous gases which could be formed by the combustion of PVC.

.............................................................................................................................. [2]

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 (b) (i) Deduce the structural formula of the monomer from that of the polymer.

H CH3

C C

H H n

structural formula of monomer

[1]

(ii) Deduce the structural formula of the polymer, poly(phenylethene), from the formula
of its monomer, phenylethene.

C 6H 5 H

C C

H H

structural formula of polymer

[2]

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 (c) The carbohydrate, glucose, polymerises to form the more complex carbohydrate starch.

If glucose is represented by

HO OH

then the structural formula of starch is as drawn below.

O O

How does the polymerisation of glucose differ from that of an alkene such as phenylethene?

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..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 8]

PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
6 Domestic rubbish is disposed of in landfillsites.Rubbishcouldincludethefollowing

items.
approximate time for
item of rubbish
item to break down

newspaper one month

cotton rag six months
woollen glove one year
aluminium container up to 500 years
styrofoam cup 1000 years

(a) Explain why aluminium, a reactive metal, takes so long to corrode.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Both paper and cotton are complex carbohydrates. They can be hydrolysed to simple
sugars such as glucose.
The formula of glucose can be represented as:

HO OH

Draw the structural formula of a complex carbohydrate, such as cotton.

Include at least two glucose units.

[2]

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 (c) Wool is a protein. It can be hydrolysed to a mixture of monomers by enzymes.

(i) What are enzymes?

....................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................. [2]

(ii) Name another substance which can hydrolyse proteins.

.............................................................................................................................. [1]

(iii) What type of compound are the monomers formed by the hydrolysis of proteins?

.............................................................................................................................. [1]

(iv) Which technique could be used to identify the individual monomers in the mixture?

.............................................................................................................................. [1]

(v) Proteins contain the amide linkage. Name a synthetic macromolecule which contains
the same linkage.

.............................................................................................................................. [1]

(d)
d) What is the scientific term used to describe polymers which do not break down in
landfill sites?

.............................................................................................................................. [1]

(ii) Styrofoam is poly(phenylethene). It is an addition polymer. Its structural formula is

given below. Deduce the structural formula of the monomer, phenylethene.

CH2 CH

C 6H 5 n

[1]

[Total: 11]

PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
7 Plastics are polymers. They are formed from their monomers by polymerisation.

(a) Two methods for the disposal of waste plastics are

● burning
● recycling.

Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of each method.

burning ..............................................................................................................................

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recycling ...........................................................................................................................

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..................................................................................................................................... [4]

(b)
b) There are two types of polymerisation reaction. Give their names and explain the
differences between them.

....................................................................................................................................

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.............................................................................................................................. [4]

(ii) Give the structural formula of a polymer which is formed from two different monomers.

[2]

[Total: 10]

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