CCEA A Level Chemistry
CCEA A Level Chemistry 5.10 Polymer Chemistry Exam Questions
Free CCEA A Level Chemistry revision for 5.10 Polymer Chemistry: what you need to know, common mistakes and exam-style questions with answers. Covers condensation polymers, polyesters and PET, polyamides and nylon, drawing repeat units and monomers, hydrolysis and biodegradability of polymers.
Practise 5.10 Polymer Chemistry with past papers
Once you have learnt this topic, find the 5.10 Polymer Chemistry questions in real CCEA A Level Chemistry past papers and mark them with the mark scheme. Doing lots of real questions is the quickest way to learn how examiners ask about each idea.
StemUp mark scheme flashcards
A-Level Chemistry Flashcards for 2027 Onwards
Every answer is written in mark scheme wording, so you learn exactly what examiners give marks for. Then test yourself with the questions on this page.
From £10.99View flashcards
About CCEA A Level Chemistry 5.10 Polymer Chemistry
Section 5.10 of Unit A2 2 covers condensation polymerisation. You need to identify monomers with carboxylic acid, alcohol and amine groups, and draw polymer repeat units from monomers and monomers from repeat units. CCEA uses poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, as the example polyester and nylon as the example polyamide. You must describe how polyesters and polyamides can be hydrolysed by acids and alkalis, and why this makes them potentially biodegradable, unlike addition polymers such as poly(ethene) from alkenes (2.4). This section draws on carboxylic acids (4.8), derivatives (4.9), amides (5.8) and amino acids (5.9), since proteins are natural polyamides.
What you need to know
- Condensation polymerisation Monomers with two functional groups join, releasing a small molecule such as water or HCl at each link.
- Polyesters A diol and a dicarboxylic acid form ester links. PET is made from ethane-1,2-diol, HOCH2CH2OH, and benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid, HOOC-C6H4-COOH.
- Polyamides A diamine and a dicarboxylic acid (or diacyl dichloride) form amide links. Nylon-6,6 is made from hexane-1,6-diamine, H2N(CH2)6NH2, and hexanedioic acid, HOOC(CH2)4COOH.
- Drawing repeat units Show one of each monomer residue joined by the link, with extension bonds at each end. To find monomers, break each ester or amide link and add back -OH to C=O and -H to O or N.
- Hydrolysis and biodegradability Ester and amide links can be hydrolysed by acid or alkali (and by enzymes), so condensation polymers can break down. Addition polymers have strong non-polar C-C backbones and are not biodegradable.
Common mistakes in 5.10 Polymer Chemistry
- Drawing the repeat unit with water still attached. Each link loses H2O, so remove -OH from the acid and -H from the alcohol or amine.
- Forgetting extension bonds. Show bonds leaving each end of the repeat unit.
- Calling nylon an addition polymer. It is a condensation polymer formed with loss of water or HCl.
- Saying polyesters cannot be hydrolysed. Ester links can be broken by acids and alkalis.
- Drawing a polyamide link as -CO-O-. The amide link is -CO-NH-.
Try three 5.10 Polymer Chemistry exam-style questions
1. Draw the repeat unit of nylon-6,6. (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
-NH(CH2)6NH-CO(CH2)4CO- with extension bonds; amide links correct.
2. Calculate the Mr of the repeat unit of nylon-6,6, C12H22N2O2. (1 mark)
Show the mark scheme answer
(12 x 12) + (22 x 1) + (2 x 14) + (2 x 16) = 226.
3. Explain why polyesters are biodegradable but poly(ethene) is not. (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Polyesters contain polar ester links that can be hydrolysed; poly(ethene) has only non-polar C-C and C-H bonds that are not attacked.
5.10 Polymer Chemistry FAQs
What does CCEA A Level Chemistry 5.10 Polymer Chemistry cover?
It covers condensation polymers, PET and nylon, drawing repeat units and monomers, hydrolysis and biodegradability.
Which unit is 5.10 Polymer Chemistry examined in?
It is examined in Unit A2 2: Analytical, Transition Metals, Electrochemistry and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry, a 2 hour paper with a multiple-choice section and structured questions. Related practical skills can also be assessed in Unit A2 3.
How do I find monomers from a polymer structure?
Locate each ester or amide link, break it, add OH back to the carbonyl carbon and H to the oxygen or nitrogen, and you have the two monomers.
