Polymers

1. Polymers are large molecules made up of many smaller and identical

repeating units joined together by covalent bonds. These molecules are called
monomers.
2. Polymerisation is the chemical process by which the monomers are joined
together to form the big molecule known as the polymer
AAAAAAA
monome
Or nA
rs

-A-A-A-A-A-A( - A -)n where A = monomer

n = a big number

3.

A polymer is a macromolecule that are a different property than its

monomers.
4. Polymers are divided into 2 types:
a) Naturally occurring polymers
-exist in living things (plants and animals)
b) Synthetic polymer
- man-made polymers by chemical processes
Naturally occurring polymers
1.Examples are
a) protein:
- in muscles, skin, silk, hair, wool and fur
-protein is formed by polymerisation of monomers known as amino
acids
b) carbohydrates :
-in starch and cellulose
-consists of monomers known as glucose joined chemically through
polymerisation
c) natural rubber :
-in latex
-monomers such as isoprene (2-methylbuta- 1,3-diene) are joined
together chemically to form natural rubber
Synthetic Polymers
1.Synthetic polymers are made in the industry from chemical substances
2.Raw materials for synthetic polymers are obtained from petroleum
3.Types of synthetic polymers:
a) plastics
b) fibres
c) elastomers
Synthetic polymer
Polyethylene (PE)
IUPAC name: polythene

Monomer
Ethene, C2H6

Uses
Plastic bags, shopping bags,
plastic containers, plastic

toys, plastic cups and plates

Polypropylene (PP)
IUPAC name : polypropene

Propene, C3H6

Plastic bottles, bottles crates,

plastic tables and chairs, car
battery cases and ropes

Polyvinylchloride (PVC)
IUPAC name:
polychloroethene

Chloroethene,
C2H3Cl

Water pipes, shoes, bags, rain

clothes, artificial leather and
wire casing

Polystyrene (PS)
IUPAC name :
polyphenylethene

Phenylethene,
C6H5CH = CH2

Packaging materials, heat

insulators, toys, disposable
cups and plates

Perspex (PP)
IUPAC name : poly (methyl
- 2 - methylpropenoate)

Methyl-2-methyl
propenoate
(methylmetacrylate
)
CH2 =
C(CH3)CO2CH3

Safety glass, airplane

windows, car lamps, traffic
signs, lens, reflectors and toys

Teflon (PTFE)
IUPAC name:
polytetrafluoroethene

Tetrafluoroethene,
C2F4

Coatings for non-stick frying

pans and electrical insulators

Terylene

Hexane- 1, 6-diol
and benzene- 1, 4dicarboxylic acid

Clothing (does not easily

crease), sleeping bags, sails,
ropes and fishing nets

Nylon

Hexane- 1, 6
-diamine and
hexane- 1, 6- dioic
acid

Ropes, fishing lines, stocking,

clothing, carpets and
parachutes