CIE A Level Chemistry
CIE A Level Chemistry Polymerisation Exam Questions
Free CIE A Level Chemistry exam questions for Polymerisation, with a mark scheme for every pack. Covers addition polymers, condensation polymers including polyesters and polyamides, proteins, identifying monomers and repeat units, and polymer disposal and biodegradability.
Polymerisation exam questions
1 question pack of real past exam questions, each with its mark scheme. Do not stop after a few: answer as many as you can without notes, then mark every answer with the mark scheme. The more questions you do, the more quickly you will spot how examiners ask about each idea.
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About CIE A Level Chemistry Polymerisation
Polymerisation in Cambridge International 9701 brings together addition and condensation polymers. At AS you study addition polymerisation of alkenes such as ethene, propene and chloroethene, deduce repeat units and monomers, and discuss the difficulties of disposing of poly(alkenes), which are non-biodegradable, including the toxic products of burning. At A Level you extend this to condensation polymers: polyesters made from diols and dicarboxylic acids (or diacyl chlorides) and polyamides from diamines and dicarboxylic acids, plus proteins made from amino acids. You also explain why condensation polymers can be hydrolysed and are often biodegradable. Examiners regularly ask you to draw repeat units or identify monomers from a polymer section.
What you need to know
- Addition polymerisation Monomers with a C=C double bond join to form a saturated chain with no other product. Poly(ethene), poly(propene) and poly(chloroethene) are common examples.
- Repeat units Draw the repeat unit with brackets and extension bonds through the brackets. For an addition polymer, the main chain has two carbons per monomer and all side groups are kept.
- Disposal of poly(alkenes) Poly(alkenes) are chemically inert and non-biodegradable. Burning releases CO2, and PVC releases toxic HCl, so recycling and alternative materials are important.
- Polyesters (A Level) Formed by condensation between a diol and a dicarboxylic acid, losing water, or a diacyl chloride, losing HCl. Terylene (PET) is an example. The ester link is -COO-.
- Polyamides (A Level) Formed from a diamine and a dicarboxylic acid or diacyl chloride, linked by the -CONH- amide bond. Nylon and Kevlar are polyamides, and proteins are polyamides made from amino acids.
- Degradability (A Level) Polyesters and polyamides can be hydrolysed by acids, alkalis or enzymes at their ester or amide links, so they can be biodegradable. Some poly(alkenes) are made photodegradable by including C=O groups.
- Deducing monomers Break each amide or ester link and add back H and OH (or H and Cl) to find the monomers. For addition polymers, put the C=C back between the two main-chain carbons.
Common mistakes in Polymerisation
- Drawing an addition polymer repeat unit with a C=C double bond still present.
- Forgetting the small molecule (H2O or HCl) eliminated in condensation polymerisation.
- Leaving off extension bonds or drawing them inside the brackets on a repeat unit.
- Saying poly(alkenes) are unreactive because they have double bonds; they are saturated with strong non-polar C-C and C-H bonds.
- Mixing up which monomer gives the ester link and which gives the amide link.
Try three Polymerisation exam-style questions
1. Draw the repeat unit of poly(propene). (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
-CH2-CH(CH3)- inside brackets; with extension bonds through the brackets.
2. A polyester is made from ethane-1,2-diol and benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid. Draw the repeat unit and name the other product. (3 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
-O-CH2-CH2-O-CO-C6H4-CO- repeat unit; ester links shown correctly; water is the other product.
3. Explain why polyamides are biodegradable but poly(ethene) is not. (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Polyamides contain polar amide links that can be hydrolysed (by enzymes, acid or alkali); poly(ethene) has only non-polar C-C and C-H bonds that are not attacked.
Polymerisation FAQs
What does Cambridge AS & A Level Chemistry Polymerisation cover?
It covers addition polymers and their disposal at AS, and condensation polymers, polyesters, polyamides and proteins at A Level.
Which parts of Polymerisation are A Level only?
Condensation polymerisation, polyesters, polyamides, proteins as polymers and the biodegradability of condensation polymers are A Level content.
How do I identify the monomers from a polymer?
Find the repeating section, split it at each ester or amide link, and add H or OH (or Cl) to each end to restore the functional groups.
