New
New
Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Addition polymerisation

I can describe the formation of an addition polymer from its monomer.

New
New
Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Addition polymerisation

I can describe the formation of an addition polymer from its monomer.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A polymer is a substance of high average relative molecular mass made up of small repeating units.
  2. In addition polymerisation only one molecule is formed, e.g. addition polymerisation of ethene forms poly(ethene).
  3. Polymers have a specific displayed formula to show repeat units.
  4. A polymer's monomer can be deduced from its structure and vice versa.
  5. Addition polymers can be made by combining together a variety of monomer molecules containing C=C.

Common misconception

Not including the bonds at the end of a repeating unit.

The slide deck states the need for open bonds to show how repeating units are bonded to each other.

Keywords

  • Polymers - Polymers are long-chained molecules formed by joining together monomers.

  • Monomers - Monomers are small molecules that can join together to form a polymer.

  • Relative molecular mass - The relative molecular mass of a substance is the sum of the relative atomic masses of all the atoms in a molecule.

  • Addition polymerisation - Addition polymerisation is a type of polymerisation where monomers join together to form only one product; a polymer.

  • Repeating unit - The section of a polymer that repeats is known as the repeating unit.

Use molymods to show how monomers can join together to form polymer chains.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Molymods (optional).

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the functional group of alkenes?
-OH
Correct answer: C=C
COOH
-COO-
Q2.
Name the molecule shown in the image.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: ethene
Q3.
What is the relative molecular mass of H₂O?
Correct Answer: 18
Q4.
What is the relative molecular mass of propene (C₃H₆)?
1
12
18
36
Correct answer: 42
Q5.
Monomers such as styrene can join together to form a polymer. What will the polymer be called?
poly(ethene)
Correct answer: poly(styrene)
poly(tetrafuoroethene)
poly(vinylchloride)
Q6.
Which monomer is used to make poly(propene)?
ethene
ethane
Correct answer: propene
propanol
propane

6 Questions

Q1.
How many products are formed during addition polymerisation?
Correct answer: 1
2
3
4
Q2.
Polymerisation of the monomer shown in the image will produce which polymer?
An image in a quiz
poly(propene)
poly(bromoethene)
Correct answer: poly(chloroethene)
poly(tetrafluoroethene)
Q3.
What is shown in the image?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: a monomer
a polymer
a repeating unit
Q4.
Match the key terms with the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:polymers,long-chained molecules formed by joining together monomers.

long-chained molecules formed by joining together monomers.

Correct Answer:monomers,small molecules that can join together to form a polymer.

small molecules that can join together to form a polymer.

Correct Answer:addition polymerisation,where monomers join together to form only one product.

where monomers join together to form only one product.

Correct Answer:repeating unit,a section of a polymer that repeats.

a section of a polymer that repeats.

Q5.
How does the relative molecular mass (Mr) of poly(ethene) compare with the relative molecular mass of ethene?
Correct answer: The Mr of poly(ethene) is larger than the Mr of ethene.
The Mr of poly(ethene) is the same as the Mr of ethene.
The Mr of poly(ethene) is smaller than the Mr of ethene.
Q6.
The image shows two repeat units. Which monomer was used in polymerisation to form a polymer containining these repeat units?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: ethene
propene
butene
pentene