GCSE Chemistry for You, Fifth Edition

Answers to End-of-chapter questions for Chapter 16, Polymers

It is very important that you are able to answer the questions on your own, using your
own knowledge of Chemistry.
Have a go at the questions first, and then check your answers using this page.
If you get a question wrong, try to work out where you have made an error.

1. a) poly(chloroethene) (PVC) – it does not rust

b) poly(phenylethene) or (polystyrene) – it is a good thermal insulator
c) polyester or nylon – more hard-wearing, less prone to shrinking and wrinkling
so can be non-iron, dries faster
d) paper – poly(ethene) is stronger and waterproof

2. a) Many small molecules called monomers join together to form a long chain
molecule called a polymer.
For example
n(C2H4)  (-C2H4-)n
(where n is a very large number)
b) i) Styrene (or phenylethene)
ii) Propene

3. a) A thermoplastic will melt when heated. A thermoset will not melt, but if
heated strongly enough it will decompose.
b) A thermoplastic has weak intermolecular forces between the chains, but a
thermoset has strong covalent bonds (cross-links) between chains. These
need a much higher temperature to break than the weak inter-molecular
forces, and at this temperature many other bonds would also break.
c) i) Electrical insulator, hard, heat-resistant (so thermoset)
ii) Low density, unreactive, non-toxic
iii) Flexible, low density, waterproof
iv) Transparent, strong
d) Lycra – low density, not damaged by sweat, sunlight or detergents – used for
sports clothing or other comfortable stretchy clothing with a tight fit.
Thinsulate – thinner than most other fibres, traps a lot of air and reflects
heat, does not absorb much water – used for thermal clothing such as
walking and climbing gear.

Oxford University Press GCSE Chemistry for You, Fifth Edition © Ryan Books Ltd, 2016   page 1 of 2
GCSE Chemistry for You, Fifth Edition

4. a) Examples are poly(ethene), poly(propene), poly(chloroethene),

poly(tetrafluoroethene), poly(phenylethene) (polystyrene)
b) Protein, starch, cellulose or DNA
c) In addition polymerisation, the polymer is the only product but in
condensation polymerisation another substance made up of small molecules
is also formed.
d) i) nF2C=CF2  (F2C-CF2) n

ii)

iii)

5. a) Glucose
b) i) Nucleotides
ii) Four
iii) Two
iv) Double helix
c) i) Amino acids
ii) nH2NCH2COOH  (NHCH2CO) n + nH2O

Oxford University Press GCSE Chemistry for You, Fifth Edition © Ryan Books Ltd, 2016   page 2 of 2