Polymers (Leaving Cert Chemistry): Flashcards

Large molecules of long chains made from many smaller units joined

Small building blocks that join together to make polymers

Plastics

'Poly' (many) + 'mer' (parts) = many parts joined together

Monomers must contain $C=C$ double bonds

Ethene

Shopping bags, food packaging, bowls, lunch boxes, toys, buckets

Polychloroethene

Chlorine atoms create stronger attractions between polymer chains

Window frames, doors, gutters, drainpipes, bank cards

Contains a benzene ring attached to main carbon chain

Smallest part of polymer that repeats to produce complete chain

Cannot be broken down by microorganisms into natural substances

Strong carbon-carbon polymer chains resist microorganism attack

Hundreds of years