IGCSE CHEMISTRY

SECTION 5 LESSON 3
 Content

The iGCSE
Section 1 Principles of Chemistry
Chemistry
course Section 2 Chemistry of the Elements

Section 3 Organic Chemistry

Section 4 Physical Chemistry

Section 5 Chemistry in Society

 Content

Section 5
a) Extraction and uses of
metals
Chemistry b) Crude oil
in industry c) Synthetic polymers
d) The industrial manufacture
of chemicals
 Lesson 3 c) Synthetic polymers
5.15 understand that an addition polymer is formed by
joining up many small molecules called monomers

c) Synthetic
5.16 draw the repeat unit of addition polymers, including
poly(ethene), poly(propene) and poly(chloroethene)
polymers 5.17 deduce the structure of a monomer from the repeat
unit of an addition polymer
5.18 describe some uses for polymers, including
poly(ethene), poly(propene) and poly(chloroethene)
5.19 explain that addition polymers are hard to dispose of
as their inertness means that they do not easily
biodegrade
5.20 understand that some polymers, such as nylon,
form by a different process called condensation
polymerisation
5.21 understand that condensation polymerisation
produces a small molecule, such as water, as well as the
polymer.
The Monomer

Do you
remember
ethene?
The Monomer

Do you
remember
ethene?

Alkene
C2H4
The Monomer

Do you
remember
ethene?

Alkene
C2H4

Unsaturated hydrocarbon
because it has a double bond
 The Monomer
Can be
produced by
the Do you
cracking of
crude oil
remember
products ethene?

Alkene
C2H4

Unsaturated hydrocarbon
because it has a double bond
 The Monomer
Can be
produced by n
j o i
the Do you c an
cracking of l e s a in
remember ecu c h
crude oil o l g e r R S
products ethene? e m l n
o YM E
h e n m OL
t
e of o r P
u a l t e d
id
v th e r a l l
n di s c Alkene
e
I tog cule
o le C2H4
m
Unsaturated hydrocarbon
because it has a double bond
Polymerization
The process of joining single
monomers together to form
longer chain polymers is
known as polymerization.
 Polymerization
The process of joining single
monomers together to form
longer chain polymers is
known as polymerization.

Pressure

+
Catalyst
 Polymerization
The process of joining single
monomers together to form
longer chain polymers is
known as polymerization.

Pressure

Catalyst
+
 Polymerization
The process of joining single
monomers together to form
longer chain polymers is
known as polymerization.

Pressure

Catalyst
+
Polyethene molecule
(or “polythene”)
Single ethene molecules
 Polymerization
The process of joining single
monomers together to form
longer chain polymers is
known as polymerization.

Polye
t
an av henPressure
e
erag is a wax
e rel -like
of ab a tive solid
ouCatalyst
t 30, m olecu with
+ 000 la
– 50, r mass
000
Polyethene molecule
(or “polythene”)
Single ethene molecules
 Polymerization

This process is known as addition polymerization

because the polymer has the same basic formula
as the monomer.
 Polymerization

This process is known as addition polymerization

because the polymer has the same basic formula
as the monomer.
Polyethene is one of a large group of synthetic
substances that we refer to as PLASTICS.
PLASTICS - advantages
 PLASTICS - advantages
Easily shaped and
moulded, and can be
extruded, injection
moulded and vacuum
formed
 PLASTICS - advantages
Easily shaped and They are relatively
moulded, and can be inexpensive, being
extruded, injection produced as a by-
moulded and vacuum product of oil
formed refining.
 PLASTICS - advantages
Easily shaped and They are relatively
moulded, and can be inexpensive, being
extruded, injection produced as a by-
moulded and vacuum product of oil
formed refining.

They are durable, and

do not rust, corrode
or decay.
 PLASTICS - advantages
Easily shaped and They are relatively
moulded, and can be inexpensive, being
extruded, injection produced as a by-
moulded and vacuum product of oil
formed refining.

They are durable, and They are lighter than

do not rust, corrode steel, wood or stone.
or decay.
 PLASTICS - advantages
Easily shaped and They are relatively
moulded, and can be inexpensive, being
extruded, injection produced as a by-
moulded and vacuum product of oil
formed refining.

They are durable, and They are lighter than

do not rust, corrode steel, wood or stone.
or decay.

They are thermal and

electrical insulators.
PLASTICS - disadvantages
PLASTICS - disadvantages
They are not
biodegradable. This
means that they do not
decay naturally
 PLASTICS - disadvantages
They are not
biodegradable. This
means that they do not
decap naturally

Many plastics produce

poisonous fumes when
they burn.
Other examples of addition polymers
Other examples of addition polymers

Propene Polypropene
C3H6 or polypropylene

Use: washing-up
bowls
 Other examples of addition polymers

Chloroethene Polychloroethene
(Vinyl chloride) or PVC
C2H3Cl Use: waterproof
material
 Uses for Polymers
POLYMER Properties Uses
 Uses for Polymers
POLYMER Properties Uses
Very cheap Plastic bags,
Polythene and strong. bottles,
Easily moulded. buckets
 Uses for Polymers
POLYMER Properties Uses
Very cheap Plastic bags,
Polythene and strong. bottles,
Easily moulded. buckets

Polyvinyl Forms strong

Electric wire
waterproof
chloride sheets. Hard but
insulation,
plastic sheets
(PVC) flexible.
 Uses for Polymers
POLYMER Properties Uses
Very cheap Plastic bags,
Polythene and strong. bottles,
Easily moulded. buckets

Polyvinyl Forms strong

Electric wire
waterproof
chloride sheets. Hard but
insulation,
plastic sheets
(PVC) flexible.
Cheap, easily
moulded. Can be Packaging, radio
Polystyrene expanded into outer cases
foam
 Uses for Polymers
POLYMER Properties Uses
Very cheap Plastic bags,
Polythene and strong. bottles,
Easily moulded. buckets

Polyvinyl Forms strong

Electric wire
waterproof
chloride sheets. Hard but
insulation,
plastic sheets
(PVC) flexible.
Cheap, easily
moulded. Can be Packaging, radio
Polystyrene expanded into outer cases
foam

Resistant to
Trays, sinks,
Polypropene high bottles, funnels
temperatures
 CH3
C = C
So that was
H
addition
polymerization.
What’s all this I
hear about
condensation
polymerization?
 CH3
C = C
So that was
H
addition
polymerization.
What’s all this I
hear about
condensation
polymerization?

What’s a
condensation
reaction?
 Condensation Reaction:

“Two molecules combine

with the loss of a smaller
molecule, which may be
water”.
 Condensation Reaction:

“Two molecules combine

with the loss of a smaller
molecule, which may be
water”.

The polymer does not have the same

empirical formula as the monomers.
For example, nylon is
made by condensation
polymerization.

Hexane-1,6-diamine

Adipyl chloride
 For example, nylon is
made by condensation
polymerization.

Rotate

Nylon

Hexane-1,6-diamine

Adipyl chloride
 For example, nylon is
made by condensation
polymerization.

Rotate

Nylon

Hexane-1,6-diamine +
adipyl chloride

nylon + hydrogen chloride Hexane-1,6-diamine

Adipyl chloride
 End of Section 5 Lesson 3

In this lesson we have covered:

The monomer

Addition polymerization

Condensation polymerization
 CH3 H Cl H Cl
C = C
C C C C
H
H Cl H H H H
C = C
H H