Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Name ____________________________
Class __________
Date __________
Teacher____________________________
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ALKANES, ALKENES and POLYMERS
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Relate the uses of polythene, PVC and PTFE to their properties
Relate the uses of thermoplastics and thermosets to their properties
and structure
Use given data to compare the properties and uses of polymers and
traditional materials
Evaluate the social, economic and environmental impact of the
widespread use of plastic products, for individuals, communities and
the environment
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Alkanes and alkenes
Alkanes are the simplest hydrocarbons in which carbon atom are joined to
their neighbours by single bonds forming chains of carbon atoms which
are further surrounded by hydrogens.
ethane
(1) (2)
propane
(1) (2)
butane
(1) (2)
Pentane
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Alkanes are not very reactive because their single carbon-
carbon bonds make them very stable.
ALKENES
For a hydrocarbon to be called an alkene it needs to contain at least one
carbon-carbon double bond in its chain.
Alkenes are much more useful than alkanes because they are unstable.
The fact that alkenes are unstable means that its easy to turn them
into new substances.
In the same way that ethane has two carbon atoms, so does ethene.
Catalytic Cracking
It is a fact that shorter chain hydrocarbons are more useful than longer chain
hydrocarbons. Also; alkenes (hydrocarbons that contain at least one
carbon=carbon double bond) are more useful than alkanes (saturated
hydrocarbons with all single carbon-carbon bonds).
For these reasons, once distilled, long chain hydrocarbons undergo a process
called CATALYTIC CRACKING.
Catalytic cracking occurs when long chain hydrocarbons are exposed to heat
and a catalyst so that they break into smaller molecules. This type of reaction
is a thermal decomposition reaction. During catalytic cracking alkenes are
always produced as there are not enough hydrogen atoms to create two
alkanes. Take for example the cracking of decane:
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More about alkenes
The reason that alkenes are so useful is that they are unstable. The reason
that they are unstable is that they contain double bonds (two shared pairs of
electrons side by side which will repel one another). Because they are unstable
alkenes readily undergo reactions called ADDITION reactions. One type of
addition reaction occurs when alkenes add to each other many times to make
long chain hydrocarbons known as POLYMERS. This is called
POLYMERISATION.
1. poly(tetrafluoroethene) (PTFE)
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2. polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
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Uses and properties of polymers
Starting monomer Polymer Polymer Structure Properties Related uses
Ethene Poly(ethene) Good transparency Sandwich bags
Polythene
Chemically inert for example resistant to acids and alkalis. Sandwich bags/ cling
film
Low density
Squeeze bottles
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Above are different examples of plastics (polymers). There
are two types of plastic; thermoplastics and thermosetting
plastics. Some of you may have talked about this in technology.
There are two types of plastic which are classified according
to the way in which they behave on heating.
Thermosets Thermoplastics
Made up of long Made up of long
hydrocarbon (polymer hydrocarbon (polymer
chains) chains)
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Advantages and disadvantages of plastics
Disadvantages
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Alkanes and Alkenes and Cracking
6. Fill in the table below;
Ethane
Propane
Butane
Pentane
Decane
Ethene
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4. You only need to know the alkene ethene for your G.C.S.E
but have a go at drawing the structures for propene,
pentene and octene. (Before harassing your teacher straight away with this one try
problem solving the prefix such as pent tells you the number of carbon atoms in the chain. Put the
double bond between the first two carbons and remember, carbon must have four bonds around it when
putting the hydrogens onto the chain. The general formula for an alkene is C NH2N.
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What does it do?
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8. Here is an equation to show the cracking of decane into
i.
ii.
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Polymerisation(making plastics), different types of plastics and
their advantages and disadvantages.
I.C.T could do
internet research here.
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Draw the polymer PVC and write about its uses and related properties.
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Draw the polymer PTFE and write about its uses and related properties.
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2. Once polymers are formed; the way they arrange
themselves on mass when heated dictates the type of plastic
group they belong to; thermosetting or thermoplastics. Fill in
the table using the summary sheet to help you:
Thermosets Thermoplastics
Made up of long hydrocarbon Made up of long hydrocarbon
(polymer chains) (polymer chains)
Diagram Diagram
Diagram Diagram
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3. Use this page to display the advantages and disadvantages of plastics. Draw a table, write a newspaper
article, write an essay, draw a spider diagram, draw a whatever you like diagram, put down lots of points,
approach this in any way you wish. BE CREATIVE!
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