Diagnostic Misconceptions - Drawing Polymers
Chemistry: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 2.3.27
Drawing Polymers
Polymers are made up of repeating units. Because of this, we can show their chemical structure as a unit that is repeated lots of times. You can show the unit is repeating using brackets.
Formation of polymers
- Polymers form when carbon-carbon double bonds in alkenes break.
- The carbon on each side of the carbon-carbon double bond forms new bonds to other carbon atoms in the same situation.
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Poly(ethene)
- Poly(ethene) is a chain of repeating ethane units.
- Ethene has two carbon atoms.
- The bonds going through the brackets shows the units are repeating.
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Poly(propene)
- Poly(propene) is a chain of repeating propane units.
- Propene has three carbon atoms.
- The propene unit bonds to other propene units at either side of the original alkene double bond.
- Therefore, poly(propene) forms this structure.
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Poly(butene)
- Poly(butene) is a chain of repeating propane units.
- Butene has four carbon atoms.
- The butene unit bonds to other propane units at either side of the original alkene double bond.
- Therefore, poly(butene) forms this structure.
Test yourself on Diagnostic Misconceptions - Drawing Polymers
What polymer is shown in this image?
What polymer is shown in this image?