Polymers

polymer

a long molecule with a large Mr made up of smaller repeating units (monomers)

synthetic polymer

a man-made/artificial polymer

natural polymer

produced by living organisms

examples of polymers

• glucose → starch

• amino acids → protein

• nucleotides → DNA

polymerisation

the process in which monomers are chemically bonded together to form a polymer

poly(ethene)

• polythene

• flexible, cheap, good insulator

• used for plastic bags and plastic bottles

poly(propene)

• polypropylene

• flexible, does not shatter

• used for buckets, ropes

poly(chloroethene)

• polyvinyl chloride, PVC

• tough, either hard or flexible, good insulator

• used for drainpipes, electrical cable covering

poly(tetrafluoroethene)

• PTFE, Teflon^TM

• tough, slippery

• used for non-stick coating in frying pans

disposal of polymers in landfill

• more convenient and quicker for the user/consumer of polymer

• non-biodegradable, takes years to break down

• takes up space/land

incineration of polymers

• stops it from going to landfill and using up space

• produces heat energy when burnt which can be used for other chemical processes

• produces toxic gases/fumes

recycling polymers

• conserves finite resources of crude oil, less new polymers need to be made

• stops it from going to landfill and using up space

• inconvenient, requires sorting

• requires a lot of energy

• not all polymers are recyclable

condensation polymerisation

• produces a polymer molecule and a molecule of water

• e.g. polyester