Polymers and Repeating Units Flashcards

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

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What is a polymer?

A polymer is a very large molecule made from many small molecules joined in a long chain.

What is a monomer?

A monomer is a small molecule that can join to other monomers to form a polymer.

What is polymerisation?

Polymerisation is the chemical reaction where many monomer molecules join together to make a polymer chain.

What is meant by the repeating unit of a polymer?

The repeating unit is the part of the polymer structure that repeats over and over along the chain.

How is a repeating unit shown in a displayed formula?

The repeating part is put in square brackets with a bond going through each side, and an ‘n’ is written outside the brackets.

In polymer diagrams, what does the small letter ‘n’ mean?

It shows that there are a very large number of repeating units joined in the chain.

How does the structure of a polymer differ from its monomer?

The monomer is a small molecule, often with a double bond, but in the polymer the units are joined in a long chain with single bonds.

Why do many polymers have high melting points?

They have long chains that lie close together, so there are strong forces between the chains that need a lot of energy to break.

Give one example of a common polymer and a use for it.

Poly(ethene) is a common polymer used to make plastic bags and bottles.

What is the difference between natural and synthetic polymers?

Natural polymers are made by living things, like proteins and starch, while synthetic polymers are man-made plastics, like poly(ethene).