POLYMERSPOLYMERSA guide for GCSE studentsA guide for GCSE students

KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHINGKNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING2010 2010

SPECIFICATIONSSPECIFICATIONS

POLYMERSPOLYMERS

INTRODUCTION

This Powerpoint show is one of several produced to help students understand selected GCSE Chemistry topics. It is based on the requirements of the AQA specification but is suitable for other examination boards.

Individual students may use the material at home for revision purposes and it can also prove useful for classroom teaching with an interactive white board.

Accompanying notes on this, and the full range of AS and A2 Chemistry topics, are available from the KNOCKHARDY WEBSITE at...

www.knockhardy.org.uk

All diagrams, photographs and any animations in this Powerpoint are original and created by Jonathan Hopton. Permission must be obtained for their use in any work that is distributed for financial gain.

All diagrams, photographs and any animations in this Powerpoint are original and created by Jonathan Hopton. Permission must be obtained for their use in any work that is distributed for financial gain.

CONTENTSCONTENTS

• What is polymerisation?

• Types of polymerisation

• Addition polymerisation of ethene

• Other polymerisation examples

• Sources of monomers

• Disposal of polymers

• Questions

POLYMERSPOLYMERS

For more detailed information on fractional distillation, cracking and the properties of hydrocarbons such as alkanes and alkenes,

see the appropriate Powerpoint on the Knockhardy GCSE site.www.knockhardy.org.uk/gcse.htm

For more detailed information on fractional distillation, cracking and the properties of hydrocarbons such as alkanes and alkenes,

see the appropriate Powerpoint on the Knockhardy GCSE site.www.knockhardy.org.uk/gcse.htm

WHAT IS POLYMERISATION?WHAT IS POLYMERISATION?

A process in which small molecules called monomers jointogether into large molecules consisting of repeating units.

POLYMERISATIONPOLYMERISATION

A process in which small molecules called monomers jointogether into large molecules consisting of repeating units.

There are two basic typesThere are two basic types

POLYMERISATIONPOLYMERISATION

A process in which small molecules called monomers jointogether into large molecules consisting of repeating units.

There are two basic typesThere are two basic types

ADDITION all the atoms in the monomer are used to form the polymer

examples poly(ethene), polystyrene, pvc, ptfe

POLYMERISATIONPOLYMERISATION

A process in which small molecules called monomers jointogether into large molecules consisting of repeating units.

There are two basic typesThere are two basic types

ADDITION all the atoms in the monomer are used to form the polymer

examples poly(ethene), polystyrene, pvc, ptfe

CONDENSATION monomers join up the with expulsion of small molecules not all the original atoms are present in the polymer

examples nylon, polyesters, pva

POLYMERISATIONPOLYMERISATION

A process in which small molecules called monomers jointogether into large molecules consisting of repeating units.

There are two basic typesThere are two basic types

ADDITION all the atoms in the monomer are used to form the polymer

examples poly(ethene), polystyrene, pvc, ptfe

CONDENSATION monomers join up the with expulsion of small molecules not all the original atoms are present in the polymer

examples nylon, polyesters, pva

ALKENES UNDERGO ADDITION POLYMERISATION

POLYMERISATIONPOLYMERISATION

• during polymerisation, alkenes undergo an addition reaction

• all the atoms in the original alkenes are used to form the polymer

• long hydrocarbon chains are formed

POLYMERISATIONPOLYMERISATION

• during polymerisation, alkenes undergo an addition reaction

• all the atoms in the original alkenes are used to form the polymer

• long hydrocarbon chains are formed

POLYMERISATIONPOLYMERISATION

• during polymerisation, alkenes undergo an addition reaction

• all the atoms in the original alkenes are used to form the polymer

• long hydrocarbon chains are formed

• the diagram shows… the original monomer and the repeating unit in the polymer

POLYMERISATIONPOLYMERISATION

ethene poly(ethene)

MONOMER POLYMER

• during polymerisation, alkenes undergo an addition reaction

• all the atoms in the original alkenes are used to form the polymer

• long hydrocarbon chains are formed

• the diagram shows… the original monomer and the repeating unit in the polymer

POLYMERISATIONPOLYMERISATION

ethene poly(ethene)

MONOMER POLYMER

n represents a large number

the number of repeating units is the same as the number of original molecules

The animation shows the monomers turning into the polymer

POLYMERISATIONPOLYMERISATION

ETHENE

PROPENE

TETRAFLUOROETHENE

CHLOROETHENE

POLY(ETHENE)

POLY(PROPENE)

POLY(CHLOROETHENE)

POLYVINYLCHLORIDE PVC

POLY(TETRAFLUOROETHENE)

PTFE “Teflon”

OTHER POLYMERISATION REACTIONSOTHER POLYMERISATION REACTIONS

SOURCES OF MONOMERSSOURCES OF MONOMERS

SOURCES OF MONOMERSSOURCES OF MONOMERS

FROM CRUDE OILFROM CRUDE OIL

SOURCES OF MONOMERSSOURCES OF MONOMERS

FROM CRUDE OILFROM CRUDE OIL

CRUDE OIL IS FRACTIONALLY DISTILLED

HEAVIER HYDROCARBON FRACTIONS ARE LESS USEFUL

SOURCES OF MONOMERSSOURCES OF MONOMERS

FROM CRUDE OILFROM CRUDE OIL

CRUDE OIL IS FRACTIONALLY DISTILLED

HEAVIER HYDROCARBON FRACTIONS ARE LESS USEFUL

THEIR MOLECULES ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO SMALLER ONES

THIS PROCESS IS KNOWN AS CRACKINGCRACKING

SOURCES OF MONOMERSSOURCES OF MONOMERS

FROM CRUDE OILFROM CRUDE OIL

CRUDE OIL IS FRACTIONALLY DISTILLED

HEAVIER HYDROCARBON FRACTIONS ARE LESS USEFUL

THEIR MOLECULES ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO SMALLER ONES

THIS PROCESS IS KNOWN AS CRACKINGCRACKING

ETHENE(an alkene)

SOURCES OF MONOMERSSOURCES OF MONOMERS

FROM CRUDE OILFROM CRUDE OIL

CRUDE OIL IS FRACTIONALLY DISTILLED

HEAVIER HYDROCARBON FRACTIONS ARE LESS USEFUL

THEIR MOLECULES ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO SMALLER ONES

THIS PROCESS IS KNOWN AS CRACKINGCRACKING

ALKENES ARE AN IMPORTANT PRODUCT OF CRACKING

ETHENE (C2H4) IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ALKENE

ETHENE(an alkene)

PROBLEMS WITH POLYMERSPROBLEMS WITH POLYMERS

Although polymers derived from alkenes are invaluable to modern society, their disposal creates widespread problems.

PROBLEMS WITH POLYMERSPROBLEMS WITH POLYMERS

Although polymers derived from alkenes are invaluable to modern society, their disposal creates widespread problems.

• they are unreactive to most chemicals

• they are unreactive to bacteria (non-biodegradable)

• if they are just discarded they add to the landfill problem

PROBLEMS WITH POLYMERSPROBLEMS WITH POLYMERS

Although polymers derived from alkenes are invaluable to modern society, their disposal creates widespread problems.

• they are unreactive to most chemicals

• they are unreactive to bacteria (non-biodegradable)

• if they are just discarded they add to the landfill problem

OPTIONS

PROBLEMS WITH POLYMERSPROBLEMS WITH POLYMERS

Although polymers derived from alkenes are invaluable to modern society, their disposal creates widespread problems.

• they are unreactive to most chemicals

• they are unreactive to bacteria (non-biodegradable)

• if they are just discarded they add to the landfill problem

OPTIONS

recycling high cost of collection and re-processing

incinerate saves on landfill sites and produces energy but…produces toxic fumes

PROBLEMS WITH POLYMERSPROBLEMS WITH POLYMERS

Plastic bags are being made from polymers andcornstarch so that they break down more easilyPlastic bags are being made from polymers andcornstarch so that they break down more easily

POLYMERISATION OF ALKENESPOLYMERISATION OF ALKENES

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

POLYMERISATION OF ALKENESPOLYMERISATION OF ALKENES

CAN YOU SPOT THE ORIGINAL ALKENE MONOMER?

POLYMERISATION OF ALKENESPOLYMERISATION OF ALKENES

CAN YOU SPOT THE ORIGINAL ALKENE MONOMER?

For more detailed information on FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION AND

CRACKING, please see the appropriate Powerpoint on the Knockhardy GCSE site.

www.knockhardy.org.uk/gcse.htm

For more detailed information on FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION AND

CRACKING, please see the appropriate Powerpoint on the Knockhardy GCSE site.

www.knockhardy.org.uk/gcse.htm

POLYMERSPOLYMERSTHE ENDTHE END

©©2011 JONATHAN HOPTON & KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING2011 JONATHAN HOPTON & KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING