Repeat Units and Working Out Monomers Flashcards

1️⃣ Familiarise yourself with the flashcards:

  • Look through all the flashcards to see what's on both sides.
  • Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

  • Look at the question or prompt on each card and try to remember the answer before flipping it over.
  • Check the answer and make a note of any cards you find challenging and need to go over more.

3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

  • Use spaced repetition: spend more time on the cards you struggle with and go over them more often.
  • Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

PERSONALISED 1-TO-1 TUTORING

Need more help on this topic? Get 1-to-1 support

Get support with clear explanations, practice and feedback (Ages 5 to 16).

  • DBS-checked tutors
  • Flexible times
  • Parents can be updated

Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to remove ads

What is a monomer?

A monomer is a small, reactive molecule that can join to make a polymer.

What is a polymer?

A polymer is a long chain molecule made by joining many monomers together.

What is a repeat unit in a polymer?

A repeat unit is the smallest part of the polymer chain that repeats over and over.

How is a repeat unit usually shown in a displayed formula?

It is shown in square brackets with bonds going through the brackets and an n after them.

What does the small letter n mean in a polymer formula?

n means a very large number of repeat units are joined in the polymer chain.

In an addition polymer, how do the atoms in the repeat unit compare to the atoms in the monomer?

They are the same atoms in the same order; no atoms are lost or gained.

Why must the monomer for an addition polymer have a C=C double bond?

The C=C double bond opens up so monomer molecules can join to form the polymer chain.

How do you work out the monomer from an addition polymer repeat unit?

Remove the brackets, change the single bond between the central carbons to a double bond, and add an n in front of the monomer formula.

If the repeat unit is shown as [–CH2–CH2–]n, what is the monomer?

The monomer is ethene, with the formula CH2=CH2.

How is the repeat unit different from the monomer in an addition polymer?

The repeat unit has single bonds between carbons and is in brackets; the monomer has a C=C double bond and no brackets.