1. Standard Grade Revision
Unit 13
Q1. Some plastic bags are made from a synthetic polymer called polythene.
(a) What is meant by the term synthetic?
(b) Draw a section of polythene showing three monomer units joined together.   
(c) Polythene is not biodegradable.
What is meant by biodegradable?
Man-made.
H H H H H H
- C - C - C – C – C – C –
(c) Able to be broken down by naturally occurring bacteria.
Standard Grade Chemistry

2. Unit 13 Revision Standard Grade Chemistry
Q2 Ethene is used to make a variety of products. Some of these are shown below.
Write the molecular formula for ethylene glycol.
Name substance X.
Poly(ethene) is a thermoplastic polymer.
What is meant by the term ‘thermoplastic’?
Name the process by which ethene is made from long chain
hydrocarbon molecules.
(a) C2H6O2.
(b) Water.
(c) Softens on
heating.
(d) Cracking.
Standard Grade Chemistry

3. Unit 13 Revision Standard Grade Chemistry Q3.
The handle of the cooking pot is made of a polymer that does not melt when it gets hot.
What term is used to describe this type of polymer?
Thermosetting polymer.
Q4. Poly(ethene) is the most widely used polymer in the word.
10% is used for pipes and 14% for films. Blow moulding uses 8% and
injection moulding another 28%. Other uses account for the remaining 40%.
Construct a table with two headings to show all of this information.
Use of poly(ethene) % used
pipes
films
blow moulding
injection moulding 28
other uses 40
Standard Grade Chemistry

4. Unit 13 Revision. Standard Grade Chemistry
Q4. Teflon is a brand name for the plastic poly(tetrafluoroethene).
(a) Name the type of chemical reaction used to make plastics.
(b) Name the monomer used to make poly(tetrafluoroethene).
Polymerisation.
(b) Tetrafluoroethene
Q5. The structure of part of a polyacrylonitrile molecule is shown below.
Draw the structural formula for the monomer used to make polyacrylonitrile.
(b) Name the toxic gas produced when polyacrylonitrile burns.
H H
C = C
H CN
(b) Hydrogen cyanide.
Standard Grade Chemistry

5. Standard Grade Chemistry
Q6. Propene has the structural formula shown below.
 Propene quickly decolourises bromine water, Br2(aq).
 (a) (i) Name the type of chemical reaction which takes place when propene reacts with
bromine water.
(ii) Draw the full structural formula for the product of the reaction.
(b) Propene can be converted into the polymer, poly(propene).
Complete the diagram to show how three propene molecules join to form part
of the polymer chain.
(a) (i) Addition reaction.
(ii) Br Br H
H – C – C – C – H
H H H
CH3 H CH H CH3 H
- C C - C C - C C -
H H H H H H
Standard Grade Chemistry

6. Unit 13 Revision. Standard Grade Chemistry
Q Ethene is a starting material in the manufacture of the polymer poly(vinylchloride), PVC.
(a) Name the process used to make ethene from hydrocarbons obtained from crude oil.
(b) Part of a PVC polymer molecule is shown below.
H H H H H H
-C - C - C - C - C - C -
Cl H Cl H Cl H
(i) Draw the structure of the repeating unit in a PVC molecule.
(ii) Name a toxic gas produced when PVC burns.
Cracking.
(b) (i) H H
- C - C –
Cl H
(ii) Hydrogen chloride.
Standard Grade Chemistry

7. Unit 13 Revision. Standard Grade Chemistry
Q8. When superglue sets a polymer is formed. The polymer has the following structure.
H COOCH H COOCH H COOCH3
— C — C — C — C — C — C —
H CN CN CN CN CN
(a) Draw the structural formula for the monomer in superglue.
(b)Name two toxic gases given off when superglue burns.
H COOCH3
C = C
H CN
(b) Hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide.
Standard Grade Chemistry