Year 11 - Science
Polymer structures
Using Earth's resources
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit covers crude oil, its role as a hydrocarbon source, and separation by fractional distillation. It explores cracking, metal reactivity, and extraction methods, including biological alternatives. Emphasis is on recycling, life-cycle assessments, and evaluating decisions.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the structure and properties of a polymer.
Key Notes
- Polymers are very large covalent molecules (not giant structures)
- Polymers can be represented by showing repeated units
- Polymers consist of repeating and identical sections called monomers
- Polymers are solid at room temperature because the intermolecular forces between polymer molecules are relatively strong
Vocabulary To Learn
- polymer: Polymers are long-chained molecules formed by joining together monomers.
- monomer: Monomers are small molecules that can join together to form a polymer.
- repeating unit: The section of a polymer that repeats is known as the repeating unit.
- intermolecular forces: Intermolecular forces are weak forces of attraction between molecules, and molecular substances.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Not including the bonds either side of the repeating unit.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Polymers are very large covalent molecules (not giant structures). Polymers can be represented by showing repeated units.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'polymer'
Polymers are long-chained molecules formed by joining together monomers. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Not including the bonds either side of the repeating unit. Correction: The slide deck states the need for open bonds to show how repeating units are bonded to each other.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Alternative methods of extracting metals: phytoextraction and bioleaching Study Guide
- Alternative methods of extracting metals: phytomining and bioleaching Study Guide
- Cracking fractions of crude oil Study Guide
- Developing a reactivity series for metals Study Guide
- Earth's resources and sustainable development Study Guide
- Extraction of metals by reduction Study Guide
- Fractional distillation of crude oil Study Guide
- Life cycle assessments (LCAs) Study Guide
- Redox reactions Study Guide
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