Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · CHEMISTRY · Chapter
Synthetic Polymers
107 practice questions
Topics covered
Practice questions
21–30 of 43 · Easy
Question 21
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →The table shows waste disposal methods for plastics in three cities.
City Landfill (%) Incineration (%) Recycling (%) A 60 10 30 B 40 35 25 C 25 20 55 (a)[1 mark]Which city recycles the largest proportion of its plastic waste?
(b)[1 mark]Name the city with the highest proportion of plastic waste sent to landfill.
(c)[1 mark]State one environmental advantage of recycling plastics instead of incinerating them.
Question 22
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Name one feature of addition polymers that makes them persist in the environment for a long time.
Question 23
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →(a)[1 mark]Describe what is meant by the term 'biodegradability'.
(b)[1 mark]Explain why addition polymers like poly(chloroethene) are not biodegradable.
(c)[1 mark]Suggest one way to reduce the environmental impact of waste addition polymers.
Question 24
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A city sends 400,000 tonnes of plastic to landfill every year. If 85% of this is addition polymer, calculate the mass of addition polymer sent to landfill each year. Give your answer to the nearest tonne.
Question 25
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State the small molecule that is produced each time two monomers join together during polyester formation.
Question 26
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →The formation of a polyester involves two different types of monomers.
(a)[1 mark]Name the two types of organic molecules needed to make a polyester.
(b)[2 marks]Describe how these two monomers react together to form a polyester.
Question 27
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A polyester is made by reacting 3 molecules of propane-1,3-diol (CH2OHCH2CH2OH) with 3 molecules of ethane dioic acid (HOOC–COOH). Calculate the total number of water molecules produced in this reaction.
Question 28
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Explain why polyesters are classified as condensation polymers, not addition polymers.
Question 29
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →The table shows the names and structures of two monomers used to make a polyester.
Monomers for polyester synthesis Monomer Structural formula Butane-1,4-diol HOCH2CH2CH2CH2OH Propane-1,3-dioic acid HOOCCH2CH2COOH (a)[1 mark]Identify which monomer is a diol.
(b)[1 mark]State the functional group present in the acid monomer.
(c)[1 mark]When these two monomers react, what type of linkage forms between them in the polyester chain?
Question 30
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Give one use of polyesters.