Recall that a polymer is a substance of high average relative molecular mass made up of small repeating units

Describe:

a) how ethene molecules can combine together in a polymerisation reaction
b) that the addition polymer formed is called poly(ethene)

(conditions and mechanisms not required)

Describe how other addition polymers can be made by combining together other monomer molecules containing C=C, to include poly(propene), poly(chloroethene) (PVC) and poly(tetrafluoroethene) (PTFE)

(conditions and mechanisms not required)

Deduce the structure of a monomer from the structure of an addition polymer and vice versa

Explain how the uses of polymers are related to their properties and vice versa: including poly(ethene), poly(propene), poly(chloroethene) (PVC) and poly(tetrafluoroethene) (PTFE)

Explain:

a) why polyesters are condensation polymers
b) how a polyester is formed when a monomer molecule containing two carboxylic acid groups is reacted with a monomer molecule containing two alcohol groups
c) how a molecule of water is formed each time an ester link is formed

Describe some problems associated with polymers including the:

a) availability of starting materials
b) persistence in landfill sites, due to non-biodegradability
c) gases produced during disposal by combustion
d) requirement to sort polymers so that they can be melted and reformed into a new product

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of recycling polymers, including economic implications, availability of starting materials and environmental impact

Recall that:

a) DNA is a polymer made from four different monomers called nucleotides (names of nucleotides not required)
b) starch is a polymer based on sugars
c) proteins are polymers based on amino acids