IGCSE chemistry SET 1 (Polymer)

A3 More than 60 000 plastic materials, or polymers, are in use.

The table gives some information about five important polymers.

density maximum useable solubility in

polymer
in kg/m3 temperature / C organic solvents

low density
920 85 soluble above 80 C
poly(ethene)

high density
960 120 soluble above 80 C
poly(ethene)

poly(phenylethene) 1050 65 soluble

poly(chloroethene) 1390 60 soluble

poly(propene) 900 150 insoluble

(a) Which polymer would be most suited for making a pipe to carry lubricating oil at 100 C?
Give two reasons for your answer.

answer .....................

reasons ............................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................[2]

(b) State one use for poly(ethene).

......................................................................................................................................[1]

(c) Describe some of the problems of the disposal of waste polymers.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................[2]

(d) Poly(propene) is made from the monomer propene.

Draw the structure of poly(propene).

[2]

ene) are synthetic macromolecules.

(a) Name the type of linkage joining the units in fats.

 ...................................................................................................................................

(1)

(b) Proteins can be hydrolysed into monomers by boiling with concentrated hydrochloric acid.

(i) Name the monomers produced in this hydrolysis.

...................................................................................................................................

(1)

(ii) Suggest why clothes made from nylon are damaged by concentrated hydrochloric acid.

...................................................................................................................................

(1)

(c) Poly(chloroethene) is made from the monomer chloroethene. The structure of chloroethene is
shown below.

(i) Draw the structure of poly(chloroethene).

...................................................................................................................................

(1)

(ii) Explain why poly(chloroethene) has a low melting point.

...................................................................................................................................

(1)

(iii) Describe what you would observe when bromine reacts with chloroethene and state
what type of reaction takes place.
Explain why bromine will not readily react with poly(chloroethene).

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

(3)

(d) State and explain why plastics such as poly(ethene) may cause problems of pollution.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(2)
(e) Terylene is a condensation polymer.
 The structure of Terylene is shown below.

(i) What is the name of the linkage shown in the structure of Terylene?

...................................................................................................................................

(ii) Name a natural macromolecule that contains the same linkage as Terylene.

...................................................................................................................................
[2]

(f) Draw the structure of a polyamide such as nylon.

[1]
Total / 10
IGCSE chemistry SET 2 (Polymer)

B11 Macromolecules are large molecules built up from many small units.

Proteins and fats are natural macromolecules.

Poly(chloroethene) and poly(eth

IGCSE QUESTIONS SET X (Polymer)

B12 The macromolecule below is an addition polymer.

(a) Draw the structure of the monomer from which polymer X is formed.

................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) The atoms in polymer X are covalently bonded.

(i) Explain what is meant by a covalent bond

................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Polymer X is used as an insulating cover for electrical wires.
Explain why polymer X does not conduct electricity.
................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) Polymer X is non-biodegradable.

(i) Describe one pollution problem that this causes.

 ................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Polymer X can be disposed of by burning at high temperature. This produces waste
gases, some of which are toxic such as hydrogen chloride.
The hydrogen chloride can be removed by reacting the waste gases with moist calcium
carbonate powder.
Name the three products of this reaction.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................... [3]

(d) Ethene can be used to make poly(ethene).

(i) Draw a dot-and-cross diagram for an ethene molecule, C2H4. You must draw all of the
electrons.

[2]
(ii) What is the maximum mass of poly(ethene) that can be made from 28 tonnes of
ethene?

................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 10]

IGCSE QUESTIONS SET X (Polymer)

A7 Poly(chloroethene) is an addition polymer. It is often found in solid household waste.

The diagram shows the repeat unit of poly(chloroethene).

(a) Draw the structure of the monomer used to make poly(chloroethene).

[1]

(b) One way to dispose of solid household waste is to burn it at a high temperature. The
burning of poly(chloroethene) gives the waste gases hydrogen chloride, carbon dioxide
 and water.

(i) Balance the following equation to show the burning of poly(chloroethene).

..C2H3Cl + ..O2 .....HCl + .....CO2 + ..H2O

[1]

(ii) Hydrogen chloride gas is removed from the waste gases by reacting with moist
powdered calcium carbonate. Name the solid product formed.

.............................................................................................................................. [1]

(c) Name and state the use of a man-made condensation polymer.

name of condensation polymer ........................................................................................

use of condensation polymer ....................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 5]
IGCSE QUESTIONS SET X (Polymer)

B11 Styrene-butadiene rubber is a synthetic rubber. It is made by polymerising a mixture of the

monomers butadiene and styrene.

H H H H

C C C C

H X H C2H3

styrene butadiene
(a) What type of polymerisation will take place when the monomers polymerise? Explain
your reasoning.

..............................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................. [2]

One possible structure for the polymer is shown below.

styrene butadiene styrene butadiene styrene butadiene

(b) Give the full structural formula for the repeating unit in this polymer structure.

[1]

(c) When the mixture of styrene and butadiene polymerises, the polymer is unlikely to
contain only this regular, repeating pattern. Explain why.

..............................................................................................................................
[1]
 Butadiene can be made by cracking butane in a cracking tower.

(d) (i) Butane cracks to form butadiene and one other product.
Write an equation to show this reaction.
..............................................................................................................................
(ii) Give a use of the other product of this reaction.

.............................................................................................................................. [2]

(e) 2.90 kg of butane entered the cracking tower. After the reaction, 2.16 kg of
butadiene had been made.
Calculate the percentage yield of butadiene.

[3]
IGCSE QUESTIONS SET X (Polymer)

2 These diagrams show sections of the polymer chain of two condensation polymers.
Nylon H H H

N C (CH2)4 C N (CH2)6 N C (CH2)4

O O O

Terylene

O C (C6H4) C O (CH2)2 O C (C6H4)

(a) (i) Draw a circle around an amide linkage in the diagram. Label this amide. (ii)
st
(ii) Draw a circle around an ester linkage in the diagram. Label this ester. [2] at
e
(b) Name a type of naturally occurring polymer that has a similar linkage to nylon. th
e
..................................................................................................................................... [1] ty
pe
(c) The formulae of the two monomers used to make nylon are shown below. of
po
Nylon monomers HOOC(CH2)4COOH H2N(CH2)6NH2 ly
m
used to make Terylene. eri
za
................................................................................................................................... tio
n that occurs when Terylene is made.

...................................................................................................................................

(iii) State one large scale used of Terylene.

................................................................................................................................ [3]

(e) Many problems are caused by the disposal of plastics.

Describe one method of disposal of a plastic and a problem caused by this method.

................................................................................................................................ [1]

[Total: 10]
 A6 Electrolysis is used to produce many important chemicals such as chlorine, sodium
hydroxide and aluminium.

(a) Chlorine is used in both water treatment and as a bleach.

(i) Why is chlorine used in water treatment?

...................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Name a substance, other than chlorine, that is used to bleach wood pulp.

...................................................................................................................... [1]
[
(b) Chlorine is used to make chloroethene 1
]

Chloroethene can be polymerised to form poly(chloroethene).

Draw a section of a poly(chloroethene) chain to show at least two repeating units.
(c) In the production of aluminium, sodium hydroxide is used to separate aluminium oxide
from the impurities in the bauxite ore. The main impurity in the ore is iron(III) oxide.
Aluminium oxide is an amphoteric oxide whilst iron(III) oxide is a basic oxide.
Suggest how these two oxides can be separated by the addition of aqueous sodium
hydroxide.

..................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................. ....

............................................................................................................................. [2] ..

(d) Aluminium is extracted by the electrolysis of a mixture of molten aluminium oxide and [2]
cryolite. What is the function of the cryolite?
[T
...................................................................................................................................... [1]
ot
(e) Acidic foods can be safely packed in aluminium containers.
Explain why the acid in the food does not attack the aluminium, despite the fact that al:
aluminium is a reactive metal.
8]
..........................................................................................................................................

.....
B8 Fumaric acid is a colourless solid which can be extracted from plants.
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
(a) Describe the reaction of aqueous fumaric acid with aqueous bromine, giving
.....
the equation for the reaction and stating any observations.
.....
.....
..........................................................................................................................................
.....
.....
.......................................................................................................................................... .....
 ...........................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
[3]

(b) A solution of fumaric acid was titrated against aqueous sodium

hydroxide.

HO2CCH=CHCO2H + 2NaOH NaO2CCH=CHCO2Na

+ 2H2O

18.0 cm3 of 0.200 mol/dm3 sodium hydroxide were required to neutralise

60.0 cm3 of fumaric acid solution.
Calculate the concentration, in mol / dm3, of the fumaric acid solution.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
[3]

(c) Suggest the type of condensation polymer which is made when fumaric acid reacts with
ethane-1,2-diol, HOCH2CH2OH

...................................................................................................................................... [1]

(e)
Descri
be two
polluti
on
proble
ms
cause
d by
the
dispos
al of
non-
biodeg
radabl
(d) Nylon is a condensation polymer. e
State one use of nylon. plastic
s.
...................................................................................................................................... [1]
.....
 .....................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 10]

4 Catalytic cracking is carried out by oil companies to produce high grade petrol.
The process is carried out using an aluminium oxide catalyst.
The reaction is a type of thermal decomposition. St
ate
(a) Explain the meaning of the
na
(i) thermal decomposition. me
of
................................................................................................................................... the
un
................................................................................................................................... sat
ura
ted
(ii) catalyst. co
mp
................................................................................................................................... ou
nd
..............................................................................................................................[2] in
thi
(b) A typical cracking reaction is s
eq
C H C8H18 + C2H4 uat
10 22
ion
.

.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
....
 [1]
(c) The table shows some of the products obtained by cracking 100g of different fractions
under the same conditions.

products obtained / g per 100g of fraction cracked

fraction
cracked hydrogen methane ethene petrol

ethane 10 5 75 2

paraffin 1 15 30 23

diesel 0 6 20 17

(i) Which fraction is the best source of fuel for cars?

...................................................................................................................................

(ii) Calculate the amount of paraffin fraction needed to make 600g of methane.

(iii) Complete the equation for the cracking of ethane to produce hydrogen and ethene.

C2H6 + [4]

(d) Ethene can be polymerised to form poly(ethene).

(i) Complete the equation below to show the structure of two units in the
poly(ethene) molecule.

(ii) State the name given to this type of polymerisarion. Deduce the formulae of the two
monomers that are used to make Terylene.

Terylene monomers

[2]

(d) Sea fishing nets used to be made from natural fibres. Many nets are now made from
nylon. Suggest one advantage, other than strength, and one disadvantage of using
nylon rather than natural fibres to make sea fishing nets.

advantage ........................................................................................................................

disadvantage ............................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 7 marks]
B8 Propanoic acid, C2H5CO2H, is a weak acid.

(a) Explain what is meant by the term weak acid.

...................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................[1]
[1] (b)

Propanoic acid reacts with sodium carbonate. Write the equation for this reaction. [1] (c)

Magnesium reacts with propanoic acid to form magnesium propanoate and hydrogen.

Mg + 2C2H5CO2H (C2H5CO2)2Mg + H2

A student added 4.80 g of magnesium to 30.0 g of propanoic acid.

(i) Which one of these reactants, magnesium or propanoic acid, is in excess?

Explain your answer.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................ [3]
[2]
(ii) Calculate both the number of moles of hydrogen and the volume of hydrogen formed at
r.t.p. [2]

[2]

(d) Terylene has the simplified structure shown.

 (i) State the functional groups on the monomers

...............................................................................................................................[2]

(d) Ethene can be polymerised to form poly(ethene).

(i) Complete the equation below to show the structure of two units in the
poly(ethene) molecule.

(ii) State the name given to this type of polymerisarion.

...............................................................................................................................[2]

(ii) State the name given to this type of polymerisarion.

...............................................................................................................................[2]

4 Poly(ethene) is a plastic which is made by polymerizing ethene, C2H4.

(a) Which one of the following best describes the ethene molecules in this reaction?
Put a ring around the correct answer.

alcohols alkanes monomers polymers products [1]

(b) The structure of ethane is shown below.

H

H C C
H

Explain, by referring to its bonding, why ethane cannot be polymerized.

[1]

(c) Draw the structure of ethene, showing all atoms and bonds.
 [1]

(d) Ethene is obtained by cracking alkanes.

(i) Explain the meaning of the term cracking.

(ii) What condition is needed to crack alkanes?

[1]

(iii) Complete the equation for cracking decane, C10H22.

[1]

C10H22 C2H4 + .................

[1]
(e) Some oil companies crack the ethane produced when petroleum is distilled.

(i) Complete the equation for this reaction.

[1]
C2H6 C2H4 + .................

(ii) Describe the process of fractional distillation which is used to separate the different fractions
in petroleum.

(iii) State a use for the following petroleum fractions.

petrol fraction

[2]

6 This question is about polymers and plastics.

Look at the picture.

The milk container and bottle are non-biodegradable.

(a) What does non-biodegradable mean?

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................ [1] (b)

Write about some ways local councils dispose of these plastic containers.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................ [2]

[Total: 3]
lubricating fraction [2]

3 A major food retailer in the UK is going to distribute sandwiches using hydrogen-powered vehicles.

(a) A sandwich contains three of the main constituents of food.

bread contains
carbohydrate

butter
contains fat

meat contains
protein

These constituents of food can all be hydrolysed by boiling with acid or alkali.

constituent of food linkage product of hydrolysis

protein

fat

complex
carbohydrate

(i) Complete the table. [5]

(ii) What type of synthetic polymer contains the same linkage as

proteins, ....................................................................................................................

fats? ......................................................................................................................[2]

(iii) Fats can be unsaturated or saturated. A small amount of a fat was dissolved in an
organic solvent. Describe
reactions, one forming polyacrylamide and the other starch?

[2]

(b) Acrylamide hydrolyses to form acrylic acid and ammonium ions.

(i) Describe the test for the ammonium

ion. test

result [2]
 (ii) Given an aqueous solution, concentration 0.1 mol / dm 3, how could you show
that acrylic acid is a weak acid.

[2]

(c) The structural formula of acrylic acid is shown below. It forms compounds called acrylates.

COOH C
C
H

(i) Acrylic acid reacts with ethanol to form the following compound.

COOCH2CH3
C

C
H

Deduce the name of this compound. What type of organic compound is it?

name

type of compound [2]

(ii) Acrylic acid is an unsaturated compound. It will react with bromine. Describe
the colour change and draw the structural formula of the product of this
addition reaction.

colour change

structural formula of product

 [2]
3 A South Korean chemist has discovered a cure for smelly socks. Small particles of silver are attached
to a polymer, poly(propene), and this is woven into the socks.
o
(a) (i) Give the structural formula of the monomer. x
i
d
a
t
i
o
n
.

[1] [1]

(ii) Draw the structural formula of the

polymer.

[2]

(iii) Suggest which one, monomer or polymer, will react with aqueous bromine and why?

[2]

(b) To show that the polymer contains silver the following test was carried out.

The polymer fibres were chopped into small pieces and warmed with nitric acid.
The silver atoms were oxidised to silver(I) ions. The mixture was filtered. Aqueous
sodium chloride was added to the filtrate and a white precipitate formed.

(i) Why was the mixture

filtered?

[1]

(ii) Explain why the change of silver atoms to silver ions is

[1]

(iii) Give the name of the white precipitate.

[1]

(c) The unpleasant smell is caused by carboxylic acids. Bacteria cause the fats on the skin to be
hydrolysed to these acids. Silver kills the bacteria and prevents the hydrolysis of the fats.

(i) Fats are esters. Give the name and structural formula of an ester.

name [1]
 structural formula

[1]

(ii) Complete the word equation. how you could find out if this fat was saturated or
unsaturated.

reagent.................................................................................................................

result if saturated.............................................................................................. result

if unsaturated...........................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................[3]

(b) One of the reasons for using hydrogen as a fuel is to reduce air pollution. Petroleum-

powered vehicles are a major cause of air pollution. This pollution can be decreased by
reactions of the type shown below.

2CO + 2NO
N2 + 2CO2

(i) Where in a vehicle does this type of reaction occur?

..................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) Explain how carbon monoxide is formed in the engine.

...................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................[2]

(iii) Give a reason why the hydrogen-powered vehicle produces less pollution.

...............................................................................................................................[1]

(c) Outline how hydrogen is manufactured from water.

..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[2]

6 In 2002, Swedish scientists found high levels of acrylamide in starchy foods that has been cooked
above 120oC. Acrylamide, which is thought to be a risk to human health, has the following structure.
 (a) (i) It readily polymerises to polyacrylamide. Draw the structure of this polymer.

[2]

(ii) Starch is formed by polymerisation. It has a structure of the type shown below.
Name the monomer.

[1]

(iii) What are the differences between these two polymerisation

Ester + water carboxylic acid + [1]

(d) Propanoic acid is a weak acid.

(i) The following equation represents its reaction with ammonia.

CH3 CH2 COOH + NH3 CH3 CH2 COO + NH4+

Explain why propanoic acid behaves as an acid and ammonia as a base.

[3]

(ii) Explain the expression weak acid.

[1]

7 Esters, fats and polyesters all contain the ester linkage.

(a) The structural formula of an ester is given below.

H H H H H
HC
O C C C C
C
H HH H
O
H
H

Name two chemicals that could be used to make this ester and draw their
structural formulae. Show all bonds.
 names and [2]

structural formulae

[2]

(b) (i) Draw the structural formula of a polyester such as Terylene.

[2]

(ii) Suggest a use for this polymer.

[1]

(c) Cooking products, fats and vegetable oils, are mixtures of saturated and unsaturated esters.

The degree of unsaturation can be estimated by the following experiment. 4 drops of

3
the oil are dissolved in 5 cm of ethanol. Dilute bromine water is added a drop at a time
until the brown colour no longer disappears. Enough bromine has been added to the
sample to react with all the double bonds.

mass of
cooking mass of saturated fat in number of drops of
unsaturated fat in
product 100 g of product / g bromine water
100 g of product / g

margarine 35 35 5

butter 45 28 4

corn oil 10 84 12

soya oil 15 70 10

lard 38 56
(i) Complete the one blank space in the table. [1]

(ii) Complete the equation for bromine reacting with a double bond.

C C + Br2
[2]
 (iii) Using saturated fats in the diet is thought to be a major cause of heart disease.
Which of the products is the least likely to cause heart disease?

[1]

(d) A better way of measuring the degree of unsaturation is to find the iodine number of the unsaturated
compound. This is the mass of iodine that reacts with all the double bonds in 100 g of the fat.
On
Use the following information to calculate the number of double bonds in one molecule
of the fat. e

Mass of one mole of the fat is 884 g. mol

One mole of I2 reacts with one mole C C e

.
The iodine number of the fat is 86.2 g. of

Complete the following calculation. fat

rea
100 g of fat reacts with 86.2 g of iodine.
cts
884 g of fat reacts with g of iodine.
wit

mol

es

of

iodi

ne

mo

lec

ule

s.

Nu

mb

er

of

dou

ble

bo

nd
 s in one molecule of fat is [3] [Total:14
]

6 Polymers are extensively used in food packaging. Poly(dichloroethene) is

[2]

(ii) What class of compound is formed by the hydrolysis of proteins?

[1]

(c) Fats are esters. Some fats are saturated, others are unsaturated.

(i) Write the word equation for the preparation of the ester, propyl ethanoate.
[2]

(ii) Deduce the structural formula of this ester showing each individual bond.

[2]
(iii) How could you distinguish between these two fats?
Fat 1 has the formula

CH2 CO2 C17H33

CH CO2 C17H33

CH2 CO2 C17H33

Fat 2 has the formula

CH2 CO2 C17H35

CH CO2 C17H35

CH2 CO2 C17H35

test

result with fat 1

result with fat 2 [3]

(iv) Both of these fats are hydrolysed by boiling with aqueous sodium hydroxide. What
type of compounds are formed?
 and [2]

2. This question is about polymerisation.

Polymerisation changes many small molecules into large molecules.

polymerisation
small molecules large molecules

(a) Look at this list.

alkane

methane

monomer

polymer

Write down the name of the small molecules used in polymerisation.

Choose from the list.

........................................................................................................................................[1]

(b) Polymerisation is used to make plastics.

Plastics are used to make many things. Draw lines

to link each plastic to its use.

plastic use

poly(ethene) clothing

nylon insulation

poly(styrene) plastic bags

[1]
(c) Poly(ethene) is made from a small molecule called ethene.

Write down the name of the small molecule used to make poly(tetrafluoroethene).

........................................................................................................................................[1]
(d) There are more than 60 000 different plastics.

Plastics are made from polymer molecules.

This table shows some information about five polymers.

polymer density in maximum usable solubility in oil

3 O
kg/m temperature in C
low density O
920 85 insoluble below 80 C
poly(ethene)
high density O
960 120 insoluble below 80 C
poly(ethene)
poly(styrene)
1050 65 soluble
poly(chloroethene)
1390 60 soluble
poly(propene)
900 150 insoluble

Look at the table.

(i) Which polymer has the highest density?

...............................................................................................................................[1]

O
(ii) Which polymer would be best for making a pipe to carry oil at 100 C?

Name of polymer........................................................................................................

Write down two reasons for your answer.

1 .................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

2 .................................................................................................................................
 ...............................................................................................................................[3]

(e) Most polymers do not decay naturally. They are not biodegradable.

Chemists are trying to find polymers that are biodegradable. Suggest

two reasons why this research work is useful.

1 ..........................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................

2 ..........................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................[2] [Total: 9]

2 This question is about plastics.

Plastics contain large molecules.

Look at the equation.

many small molecules large molecules used because gases can only diffuse through it very slowly.
Polyesters have a high thermal stability and food can be cooked in a polyester bag.

(a) (i) The structure of poly(dichloroethene) is given below.

Cl

H Cl
n

Draw the structural formula of the monomer.

[1]
 (ii) Explain why oxygen can diffuse faster through the polymer bag than
carbon dioxide can.

[2]

(b) (i) A polyester can be formed from the monomers HO-CH2CH2-OH and
HOOC-C6H4-COOH. Draw the structure of this polyester.

[2]

(Ii) Name a naturally occurring class of compounds that contains the ester linkage.
[1]

(iii) Suggest what is meant by the term thermal stability.

[1]

(c) (i) Describe two environmental problems caused by the disposal of plastic (polymer)
waste.

[2]

(ii) The best way of disposing of plastic waste is recycling to form new plastics.
What is another advantage of recycling plastics made from petroleum?

[1]

8 The three types of food are carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

(a) Aqueous starch is hydrolysed to maltose by the enzyme

amylase.
The formula of maltose is:
 HO O OH

Starch is hydrolysed by dilute sulphuric acid to glucose.

HO

OH

(i) What is an enzyme?

[1]

(ii) Draw the structure of starch.

[1]

(iii) Name the technique that would show that the products of these two hydrolyses
are different.

[1]

(b) Proteins have the same linkage as nylon but there is more than one monomer in
the macromolecule.

(i) Draw the structure of a protein.

It shows how these large molecules are made.

(a) Look at the list.

catalysts elements

monomers polymers

Finish these sentences.

Choose from the list.

(i) The small molecules used to make plastics are called ............................................... . [1]

(ii) The large molecules in plastics are called .................................................................. . [1]

(b) A plastic is made when lots of ethene molecules are joined together.
 Write down the name of this plastic.

...............................................................................................................................................[1]

(c) Ethene, C2H4, is a hydrocarbon.

Write down the names of the two elements found in a hydrocarbon.

................................................................... and ....................................................................[2]

(d) Look at the picture.

These plastic objects are non biodegradable.

They are often thrown away and cause litter.

Explain the problems of disposing of these objects in landfill sites.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[2]
[Total: 7]

4 This question is about plastics.

(a) Look at the table.

It shows the properties of some plastics.

property

plastic flexibility hardness ease of melting point

colouring in C

A very flexible soft easy 367

B rigid soft not easy 200

C rigid hard not easy 874

D very flexible soft very easy 178

(i) A plastic part of an electric toaster must not melt.

Which plastic has the highest melting point?

Choose from A, B, C or D.

answer ......................................................... [1]

 (ii) Plastic B is polystyrene.

Write down one use for polystyrene.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Many plastics are non-biodegradable.

Write down what is meant by non-biodegradable.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(c) Disposal of waste plastics causes problems.

One of these problems is litter.

Write about other problems of disposing of plastics.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total : 5]
Structured Questions:

11.Below a list of metals in order of reactivity, with three unknown metals, X, Y and Z
included in the list.
X Ca Mg Y Zn Fe Pb Cu Z
Which of these unknown metals:
a Will react with cold water?

b Will react with steam?

c Will not react with dilute acids?

d Forms a hydroxide which is stable to heat?

e Forms a nitrate which decomposes on heating to form an oxide? What other product
are formed?

f Forms the least stable oxide?

g Complete and balance these displacement reactions assuming the charges on the
metal ions are X+, Y3+ and Z2+, respectively. If there is no reaction, say so.

i MgSO4 + X .

ii Zn(SO4) + Y .

iii Fe2O3 + Z .

iv CuCl2 + Y

12. Choose the odd man out and explain why:

a Sodium, potassium, caesium, magnesium;

b Iron, manganese, cobalt, nickel

c Copper, nickel, chromium, lead

d Mercury, silver, gold, platinum

e Calcium, aluminium, magnesium, barium

13.
Percentage metal composition
Coin
Copper Nickel Aluminium zinc
1-cent 2.75 - - 97.25
5-cent 92 2 6 -
10-cent 75 25 - -
20-cent 75 25 - -
50-cent 75 25 - -
1-dollar 92 2 6 -
Above is a table showing the percentage composition of coins used in Singapore.
a Which coins are alloy only of cupronicel?

b Why are alloys used, and not pure metals?

c Arrange the four metals used in order of their reactivity (starting with most reactive).

d Why, in most coins, is copper the main constituent?

e What physical properties and chemical properties shluld coins have?

14.Duralumin is an alloy of aluinium and copper. It is much stronger than pure aluiminum, ,
hence its name. duralumin is used in aircraft construction. The graph below shows how the
strength of this alloy varies with the percentage of copper present.
 a How is the copper mixed with the aluminium?

b What percentage of copper will produce the stongest?

c Why does rapid cooling or quenching make use of water?

d Why is sand used when it is required to cool the metal slowly?

e Using the diagram, try to explain why the alloy is stronger than pure aluminium.

Questions:
1. Crude oil (petroleum) is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons. The crude oil can be separated into
simpler mixtures(called fractions) by taking advantage of differences in boiling points between the
various hydrocarbons.
a) What do you understand by the term hydrocarbon? 2
b) What is the relationship between the number of carbon atoms in a hydrocarbon and its boiling

point? 1
c) What name is given to the process of producing the simpler mixtures form the crude oil? 1
d) One of the fractions produced from crude oil is called kerosene. Give one use for kerosene. 1

e) One of the hydrocarbons present in kerosene is an alkane containing 10 carbon atoms, called
decane. Write the molecular formula for decane. 1

f) The hydrocarbon C15H32 (also present in kerosene) burns to form carbon dioxid and water. Write
the equation for the reaction. 2

g) How would you test the products when C15H32 burns to show that carbon dioxide had been
formed? 2

h) Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), used for domestic heating and cooking, is propane (C3H8). Burning
propane in badly maintaining appliances or in poorly ventilated rooms can cause death. Explain why
that is. 4

Total 14 marks

(2) Some of the gas oil fraction from crude oil is broken into smaller molecules by hearing in the presence
of a catalyst. A mixture of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons is formed.

a) Explain the difference between a saturated and an unsaturared hydrocarbon. 2

b) What name is given to the processs of breaking up the gas oil fraction in this way?

c) When a molecule C17H36 was heated in the presence of a catalyst, it broke up to give two
molecules of ethene, C2H4, one molecule of propane, C3H6, and another molecule, X.

i. Write a balanced equation for the reaction 2

ii. Is molecule X an alkane or an alkene? 1

d) How would you test to show the presence of a carbon-carbon double bond in ethene or propene?
2

(3)
a) What do you understand by the term polymerisation? 2

b) Poly(chloroethene) also called PVC) is a polymer produced from choloroethene, CH2=CHCl. Draw
a length of PVC chain showing at least three repreating units. 3

c) The formation of nylon is an example of condensation polymerization: that is, polymerization

happening via a condensation reaction. Explain what is meant by a condensation reaction. 1

d) The formation of nylon-6,6 involves two different monomers. Draw a block diagram to show a short
length of nylon chain, including at least two of each monomer. 3

Total 8 marks
(4) This questions is about structural isomerism.

a) What are structural isomers? 2

b) Draw the structures of three isomers of C5H12. 3

c) Name the straight chain isomer. 1

(5) Ethanol CH3CH2OH, can be made by fermentation followed by fractional distillation, or by the hydration
of ethene.

a) Describe bridely how an impure dilute solution of ethanol is made by fermentation. 5

b) State the different boiling points of ethanol and water, which enable them to be separated by
fractional distillation. 2

c) Write an equation to show the hydration of ethene. 1

d) State any two conditions used during the hydration reaction. 2

e) Explain which of the two processes has the advantages in terms of:

i. The use of resources 2

ii. The conditions used 2
iii. The speed of production 2

Total 16 marks