1. 1
   A factory uses ethene gas as a starting material to manufacture large quantities of the polymer poly(ethene) for packaging.

   (a)

   A factory produces poly(ethene) on a large scale. Which molecule is the monomer used to make poly(ethene)?

   [1 mark]

   • AEthane
   • BEthene
   • CEthanol
   • DPropene

   (b)

   What type of polymerisation is used to convert ethene into poly(ethene)?

   [1 mark]

   • AAddition polymerisation
   • BCondensation polymerisation
   • CFermentation
   • DCracking

   (c)

   Describe what happens to the carbon–carbon double bonds of ethene molecules during addition polymerisation.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 1: 4 marks

2. 2
   A chemical company plans to manufacture poly(propene) from propene monomer for use in plastic products.

   (a)

   Which structural feature must a monomer have in order to undergo addition polymerisation?

   [1 mark]

   • AA single covalent bond between all carbon atoms only
   • BA carboxylic acid group
   • CAn alcohol group
   • DA carbon–carbon double bond

   (b)

   What term describes the very large molecule formed when many small monomer molecules join together?

   [1 mark]

   • AMonomer
   • BCatalyst
   • CPolymer
   • DFraction

   (c)

   Describe, in general terms, how a large number, n, of propene monomer molecules are converted into the polymer poly(propene).

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 2: 4 marks

3. 3
   A chemistry teacher demonstrates how the standard notation is used to represent the addition polymerisation of propene into poly(propene).

   (a)

   Explain what addition polymerisation is, using propene reacting to form poly(propene) as an example.

   [3 marks]

   (b)

   Describe how the formation of a polymer from a given alkene monomer is represented using standard chemical notation.

   [4 marks]

   Total for question 3: 7 marks

4. 4
   A materials scientist is preparing training notes to explain to new staff how ethene gas is converted into the solid polymer poly(ethene) used in plastic manufacturing, and how this is represented in chemical notation.

   (a)

   Explain, in detail, how addition polymerisation converts ethene monomer molecules into the polymer poly(ethene), describing what happens to the bonding of the carbon atoms.

   [6 marks]

   (b)

   Explain how standard chemical notation is used to represent the formation of a polymer from any given alkene monomer, and why this notation is useful.

   [6 marks]

   Total for question 4: 12 marks

End of questions