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Year 11 - Science

Polymer properties and problems

Organic chemistry

Unit Summary

This unit covers identifying functional groups, naming and drawing structural formulae, and predicting reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, and carboxylic acids. It explains addition and condensation polymerisation and discusses natural polymers like DNA, sugars, and amino acids.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to relate the uses of certain polymers to their properties and describe methods of reducing the problems associated with polymers.

Key Notes

  • The uses of polymers are related to their properties.
  • There are many problems associated with polymers (e.g. availability of raw materials, landfill, combustion).
  • There are many advantages and disadvantages to recycling polymers (e.g. economical and environmental).

Vocabulary To Learn

  • properties: Properties are features or characteristics of a substance that can be used to classify it, or describe how it behaves.
  • landfill: Landfill is a waste disposal site. At landfill sites the waste is buried between layers of soil and other unreactive material.
  • combustion: Combustion is an exothermic reaction where a substance reacts with oxygen.
  • recycling: Recycling is a process that involves turning waste material into new products.
  • raw materials: The starting materials used to make products are known as the raw materials. Wood, metal and crude oil are examples of raw materials.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Thinking that the polymer identification codes mean that all these polymers can be recycled as the symbols look similar to the recycling symbol.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

The uses of polymers are related to their properties. There are many problems associated with polymers (e.g. availability of raw materials, landfill, combustion).

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'properties'

Properties are features or characteristics of a substance that can be used to classify it, or describe how it behaves. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: Thinking that the polymer identification codes mean that all these polymers can be recycled as the symbols look similar to the recycling symbol. Correction: Only some polymers can be recycled. These normally have the code 1 or 2.

More Lessons In This Unit

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