SALTERS ADVANCED CHEMISTRY
"CHECK YOUR NOTES" : THE POLYMER REVOLUTION
Print the list below and tick the box supplied when you have covered the topic in your notes. Most of the points are covered in the Chemical Ideas, with supporting information in the Storyline or Activities. However, if the main source of information is the Storyline or an Activity, this is indicated.
 
1
 The historical development of addition polymers; discovery of poly(ethene) (Storyline PR2), different kinds of poly(ethene), Ziegler-Natta catalysts (Storyline PR3), conducting and light-emitting polymers (Storyline PR6) and dissolving polymers (Storyline PR5).
2
 Some examples of polymers discovered by accident (Storyline in general).
3
 Use of the terms: polymer, repeating unit and monomer.
4
 The meaning of the term: addition polymerisation.
5
 Predicting the structural formula of the addition polymer formed from given monomer(s), and vice versa.
6
 The use of systematic nomenclature to name alkenes.
7
 Cis-trans (geometric) isomers.
8
 The addition reactions of alkenes with the following: bromine, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, and water in the presence of a catalyst.
9
 The meaning of the terms: addition and electrophile.
10
 The mechanism of the electrophilic addition reaction between bromine and an alkene.
11
 Whether a molecule is polar or non-polar is determined by its shape and the polarity of its bonds.
12
 Description and examples of the following types of intermolecular forces: instantaneous dipole-induced dipole attractions, permanent dipole-permanent dipole attractions and hydrogen bonds.
13
 The principal features of the molecular structure of water: bonding and shape of the water molecule and hydrogen bonding in water and ice.
14
 Explanation of the properties of addition polymers and other substances in terms of   intermolecular attractions.
15
 The meaning of the terms: thermoplastic, thermoset and co-polymer.
16
 Crystallinity in polymers.
17
 The relationship between the properyies of addition polymers and aspects of their molecular structure: chain length, side-groups, chain branching, chain flexibility, cross-linking and stereoregularity.
18
 The relationship of the properties of a dissolving polymer to its molecular structure (Storyline PR5).
19
 The differences between primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols in terms of their structures.
20
 Recognition of members of the following homologous series: aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids.
21
 The characteristic properties of alcohols, including oxidation to carbonyl compounds and carboxylic acids, and dehydration to form alkenes.
22
The meaning of the term: elimination reaction.

 
 

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