IGCSE Chemistry Revision Notes Polymers

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Syllabus Objectives

IGCSE:ORGANIC CHEMSITRY

Sub Topic:11.8 Polymers

Syllabus Objectives:

CORE:

Define polymers as large molecules built up from many smaller molecules called monomers
Describe the formation of poly(ethene) as an example of addition polymerisation using ethene monomers
State that plastics are made from polymers
Describe how the properties of plastics have implications for their disposal
Describe the environmental challenges caused by plastics, limited to:
(a) disposal in land fill sites
(b) accumulation in oceans
(c) formation of toxic gases from burning

EXTENDED:

Identify the repeat units and/or linkages in addition polymers and in condensation polymers
Deduce the structure or repeat unit of an addition polymer from a given alkene and vice versa
Deduce the structure or repeat unit of a condensation polymer from given monomers and vice versa, limited to:
(a) polyamides from a dicarboxylic acid and a diamine
(b) polyesters from a dicarboxylic acid and a diol
Describe the differences between addition and condensation polymerisation
Describe and draw the structure of:
(a) nylon, a polyamide
(b) PET, a polyester [The full name for PET, polyethylene terephthalate, is not required]
Describe and draw the structure of: The full name for PET, polyethylene terephthalate, is not required
State that PET can be converted back into monomers and re-polymerised
Describe proteins as natural polyamides and that they are formed from amino acid monomers with the general structure: where R represents different types of side chain
13 Describe and draw the structure of proteins

Revision Notes

IGCSE Chemistry Revision Notes Polymers

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