10.3 Using Materials

This question is about polymers.

Poly(ethene) is produced from the monomer ethene.

Draw the repeating unit for poly(ethene).

Ethene is made from cracking.

Describe how ethene is produced by catalytic cracking.

Low density poly(ethene) is a thermosoftening polymer.

Thermosetting polymers can be used as saucepan handles.

Explain why thermosoftening polymers, such as poly(ethene) should not be used as saucepan handles.

You should refer to the structure and bonding of a thermosoftening polymer in your answer.

Low density poly(ethene) and high density poly(ethene) are made from the same monomer but have different properties 

Explain why.

This question is about corrosion and alloys.

Explain why aluminium bike frames do not corrode. 

A student was investigating the conditions needed for iron to rust.

They used the following method:

1. Set up test tubes with the conditions shown in Figure 1
2. Leave for two weeks
3. Examine nails for evidence of rust

The results are shown in Figure 1. 

Figure 1 

Explain the observations the student would make about the nails after two weeks.

Steel balconies are often coated in zinc.

Explain how this prevents the steel from rusting.

Iron is used to form different types of steels depending on what they are used for.

Explain how different types of steel are made. 

This question is about different materials.

Two types of glass are:

• soda lime glass
• borosilicate glass

Name two materials used to make borosilicate glass. 

Milk bottles can be made from plastic or glass.

Figure 1 shows the percentage of bottles that were made from glass from 1975 to 2010.

Using Figure 1, plot the data, including a line of best fit, for the percentage of bottles not made from glass. 

Table 1 gives information about glass and plastic milk bottles. 

Evaluate the production and use of plastic bottles and glass bottles. 

Draw the monomer used to make poly(ethene). 

This question is about different materials.

Compare the properties and uses of low carbon steel, high carbon steel and stainless steel. 

Why can concrete be described as a composite?

Explain how clay can be used to make a ceramic vase.

A 9 carat gold ring contains a mixture of metals.

The table below shows the amounts by mass of different metals in the ring.

The total mass of the ring is 5.0 g 

Plot the data for copper from the table above on the graph in Figure 2.

Figure 2

The gold costs £40 per gram.

Calculate the cost of the gold used in the 9 carat gold ring using the information given in the table.

Rings can also be made from 22 carat gold.

The ratio of the mass of gold in 22 carat gold compared to 9 carat gold is 22 : 9

Calculate how many grams of gold there are in a 22 carat gold ring of mass 5.0 g

Mass of gold = ______________________ g

Pure gold is 24 carats.

Suggest two reasons why 9 carat gold is made.

This question is about different metals and alloys.

Compare the structure of an alloy to a pure metal and explain how an alloy’s structure makes them so strong.

Nitinol is an alloy used in dental braces as it can return to its original shape after being deformed.

Titanium alloys and stainless steel can also be used to make dental braces.

Suggest two factors that need to be considered when choosing a material.

Suggest two reasons why coins are not made of pure copper.

Name the metals used in the following alloys:

[2 marks]

[2 marks]

PEX is a material made from poly(ethene) and is used as an alternative to copper for hot water pipes.

PEX is made from poly(ethene).

Suggest a property of PEX that makes it suitable for this use.

Poly(ethene) and PEX are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Poly(ethene) is a thermoplastic that can be softened by heating.

Suggest and explain how the structure of PEX changes this property.

Banks store coins in low density poly(ethene) bags.

High density poly(ethene) can be made from the same monomer as the low density polymer.

Give one change to the same polymerisation reaction that can be used to produce two different products.

Give the names of the components used to make a composite explain why composites have so many different uses.