CIE AS Chemistry

Topic Questions

ASChemistryCIETopic Questions3. Organic Chemistry3.8 Polymerisation

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First teaching 2020

Last exams 2024

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3.8 Polymerisation

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11 mark

Poly(ethenol) is a polymer used to make dissolvable plastic bags. It can be made by addition polymerisation of CH2=CH(OH).

Which structure shows a polymer chain consisting of two monomer residues?

  • 3-8-e-1a

  • 3-8-e-1b

  • 3-8-e-1c

  • 3-8-e-1d

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21 mark

Plastic waste can be incinerated to provide heat for power stations.

Why is PVC, polyvinylchloride, removed from any plastic waste that is to be incinerated?

  • It does not burn easily

  • Its combustion products are harmful

  • It is easily biodegradable

  • It destroys the ozone layer

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31 mark

The diagram below shows 2-methylpropene, C4H8, a monomer used in the production of synthetic rubber.

3-8-e-3

What is the compound formed by 2-methylpropene when it undergoes addition polymerisation?

  • 3-8-e-3a

  • 3-8-e-3b

  • 3-8-e-3c

  • 3-8-e-3d

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41 mark

Why is it difficult to dispose of plastics such as poly(alkenes) and PVC?

 

1

PVC produces harmful combustion products 

 

2

Poly(alkenes) are non–biodegradable

 

3

Poly(alkenes) are highly flammable

  • 1, 2 and 3

  • 1 and 2

  • 2 and 3

  • 1 only

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51 mark

What is the repeating unit of PVC?

  • 3-8-e-5a

  • 3-8-e-5b

  • 3-8-e-5c

  • 3-8-e-5d

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11 mark

Kevlar has the structure below.

3-8-cie-ial-chemistry-diagram-q10hard

A Kevlar rope is both lighter and stronger when compared to a steel rope of similar dimensions.

Which properties of Kevlar are responsible for this?

 

1

The Kevlar molecule has no permanent dipole.

 

2

The fibres of Kevlar align due to hydrogen bonding. 

 

3

The mass per unit length is less in a Kevlar rope than in a steel rope.

  • 1, 2 and 3

  • 1 and 2

  • 2 and 3

  • 1 only

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21 mark

Which row correctly describes what happens when poly(propene), (C3H6)n, is burned in an excess of air?

 

Moles of O2

Products

A

Poly(propene) does not burn

B

1½n

3nC + 3nH2O

C

4½n

3nCO2 + 3nH2O

D

6n

3nCO2 + 3nH2O

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31 mark

The following diagram represents the structure of a polymer.

3-8-h-3

By which method can this polymer be made?

 

Step 1

Step 2

A

B

C

D

Polymerise ethene

Polymerise 1,2-dichloroethene

Polymerise ethene

Polymerise 1, 2-dichloroethene

Hydration

Hydrolysis

Oxidation with H+ / KMnO4

Oxidation with H+ / KMnO4

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41 mark

A 1 mol sample of a monomer undergoes addition polymerisation and is completely polymerised.

How many moles of polymer might, theoretically, be formed?

 

1

1

 

2

10-6

 

3

begin mathsize 16px style fraction numerator 1 over denominator 6.02 space cross times space 10 to the power of 23 end fraction end style

  • 1 only

  • 1 and 2

  • 2 and 3

  • 1, 2 and 3

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51 mark

Some micro-organisms naturally produce a polymer called PHB (polyhydroxy butyric acid). PHB is readily biodegradable.

3-8-cie-ial-chemistry-diagram-q5hard

What type of reaction will cause PHB to break down?

  • Addition

  • Reduction

  • Hydrolysis

  • Substitution

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11 mark

Plasticisers, resins and many other chemicals can be made synthetically by polymerisation of a variety of monomers including but-2-en-1-ol, CH3CH=CHCH2OH.

Which structure is the repeating unit in poly(but-2-en-1-ol)? 

  • 3-8-m-1a

  • 3-8-m-1b

  • 3-8-m-1c

  • 3-8-m-1d

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21 mark

Which statement about PVC is incorrect?

  • PVC molecules are saturated 

  • The repeat unit of PVC is –(CHClCHCl)–

  • Combustion of PVC waste produces a highly acidic gas

  • The empirical formula of PVC is the same as the empirical formula of its monomer

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31 mark

PVC is produced through the polymerisation of chloroethene.

How does the carbon-carbon bond in chloroethene compare with that in PVC?

  • Longer and stronger

  • Longer and weaker

  • Shorter and stronger

  • Shorter and weaker

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41 mark

What are the C−C−C bond angles along the polymeric chain in PVC?

  • Half are 109.5° and half are 120°

  • They are all 109.5°

  • They are all 120°

  • They are all 180°

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51 mark

The absorbent material in babies’ disposable nappies is made from the addition polymer shown.

3-8-cie-ial-chemistry-diagram-q5medium

From which monomer could this addition polymer be obtained?

  • HOCH2CH2CO2H

  • HO2CCH=CHCO2H

  • CH3CH(OH)CO2H

  • H2C=CHCO2H

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61 mark

In the addition polymerisation of alkenes, which types of bond breakage and bond formation occur?

 

Bond breakage

Bond formation

A

B

C

D

straight sigma space and space straight pi

straight sigma space and space straight pi

straight pi space only

straight pi space only

straight sigma space only

sigma space and space pi

straight sigma space only

sigma space and space pi

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71 mark

Cling film is made through the polymerisation of 1,1-dichloroethene. The product is dense with a high melting point and does not allow gases to pass through which makes it ideal for preserving food.

Which sequence appears in a short length of the polymer chain?

  • minus[CH2CCl2CHClCHClCH2CCl2]minus

  • minus[CCl2CCl2CCl2CCl2CCl2CCl2]minus

  • minus[CHClCHClCHClCHClCHClCHCl]minus

  • negative sign[CH2CCl2CH2CCl2CH2CCl2]minus

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81 mark

Which polymer is not made when 1-hydroxyethene and propene undergo additional polymerisation?

  • negative sign[CH2CH(OH)CH2CH(CH3)CH2CH(OH)CH2CH(CH3)]minus

  • negative sign[CH2CH(CH3)CH2CH(OH)CH2CH(OH)CH2CH(CH3)]minus

  • minus[CH2CH(CH3)CH2CHCH3CH(OH)CH2CH2CHCH3]minus

  • minus[CH2CH(OH)CH2CH(OH)CH2CH(OH)CH2CH(OH)]minus

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91 mark

The diagram shows a short length of an addition polymer chain.

3-8-cie-ial-chemistry-diagram-q9medium

The polymer has a relative molecular mass of approximately 10 000.

Approximately how many monomer units are joined together in each polymer molecule?

  • 80

  • 160

  • 240

  • 320

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101 mark

The addition of four identical monomer molecules produces the naturally occurring molecule shown below.

3-8-cie-ial-chemistry-diagram-q10medium

What could be the structural formula of the monomer?

  • CH2=C(CH3)CH2CH3

  • CH3CH=CHCH=CH2

  • CH3CH2CH2CH=CH2

  • CH2=C(CH3)CH=CH2

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