Topic 8 – Properties of Plastics
PART A
1. Some widely used fibres are shown in the grid below:
A.
COTTON
B.
NYLON (POLYAMIDE)
C. TERYLENE (POLYESTER)
D.
POLY(PROPENE)
E.
WOOL
F.
a)
b)
c)
d)
SILK
Identify the natural fibre that is obtained from a plant.
Identify the two natural fibres that are obtained from animals.
The remaining fibres in the grid are said to be ‘synthetic’. What does the word ‘synthetic’ mean?
The natural fibres are ‘biodegradable’. What does the term ‘biodegradable’ mean?
(4 marks)
2. The grid below shows various carbon compounds:
A.
CH2=CH2
B.
CH2=CHCl
C.
CH3CH3
D.
CH3CH2CH3
E.
CF2=CF2
F.
CH3CH=CH2
Which box or boxes shows:
a) A hydrocarbon which will form an addition polymer?
b) The compound ethene?
c) A compound which would form the following polymer?
CH2CHClCH2CHClCH2CHCl
(3 marks)
3. Smouldering or burning plastics can produce toxic material in the form of smoke and gases. Polystyrene,
for example, burns to give dense, sooty smoke due to its high carbon content.
a) Which toxic gas will all plastics produce if they burn in insufficient air for complete combustion to
occur?
b) Which other toxic gas does PVC produce because of the chlorine it contains?
c) Which other toxic gas do polyurethanes produce because of the hydrogen, carbon and nitrogen they
contain?
(3 marks)
4. Explain why a thermosetting polymer, usually melamine, is chosen as the surface for worktops in kitchens.
(1 mark)
5. A new polymer has the following structure:
Cl
F
Cl
F
Cl
F
C
C
C
C
C
C
H
CH3 H
CH3 H
CH3
a) Draw the full structural formula for the repeat unit in the polymer.
b) Draw the full structural formula for the monomer from which the polymer is made.
(2 marks)
6. Polystyrene is made from the monomer styrene. The systematic name for stryrene is phenylethene.
The monomer used to form polystyrene is shown.
a)
Which part of the structure of styrene allows the polymer
to form?
b)
Complete the diagram to show how three styrene
molecules join to form part of the polymer chain.
(3 marks)
c)
Give another name for polystyrene.
__________________________________________________________________
7.
A.
HOCH2CH2OH
B.
HOOC(CH2)4COOH
D.
H2N(CH2)6NH2
E.
HOOC(CH2)5NH2
a) Which two boxes show compounds, which could be used to make a polyester?
b) Which two boxes show the compounds used to make the following polymer?
OCH2CH2OOC(CH2)4COOCH2CH2OOC(CH2)4CO
(2 marks)
8. The following monomer is found in superglue.
a) Draw a section of the polymer, showing three monomer units joined together.
b) The polymer does not soften on heating. What term is used to describe this type of polymer?
c) Bromine reacts with the monomer to produce a saturated compound. Draw the structural formula
for this compound.
(3 marks)
TOTAL = 21 MARKS