AQA A-Level Chemistry 7405
Atomic Structure
Amount of Substance
Bonding
Energetics and Thermodynamics
Kinetics
Chemical Equilibria
Redox and Electrochemistry
Acids and Bases
Periodicity and Group Chemistry
Period 3 Elements and Their Oxides
Transition Metals
Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Hydrocarbons
Halogenoalkanes, Alcohols and Organic Analysis
Carbonyls, Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives
Aromatic Chemistry and Amines
Polymers, Amino Acids, Proteins and DNA
Organic Synthesis, NMR and Chromatography
Polymers, Amino Acids, Proteins and DNA
Biodegradability and Disposal of Polymers
- 3 things to know
- Papers 2 and 3
Overview
Why polyalkenes are inert, why condensation polymers hydrolyse, and the disposal options.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
What does it mean for polyalkenes to be non-biodegradable?
Why can polyesters be hydrolysed?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Why are polyalkenes chemically inert?
Model answer
Polyalkenes contain only C-C and C-H bonds, which are non-polar and unreactive.
- 2
What does it mean for polyalkenes to be non-biodegradable?
Model answer
Polyalkenes cannot be broken down by biological processes or microorganisms in the environment.
- 3
Why can polyesters be hydrolysed?
Model answer
Polyesters contain ester linkages which can undergo hydrolysis reactions.
- 4
Why can polyamides be hydrolysed?
Model answer
Polyamides contain amide/peptide linkages which can undergo hydrolysis reactions.
- 5
Why can polyalkenes not be hydrolysed?
Model answer
Polyalkenes contain only non-polar C-C and C-H bonds with no functional groups susceptible to hydrolysis.
- 6
What makes polyesters biodegradable?
Model answer
The ester linkages in polyesters can be hydrolysed by water, acids, alkalis or enzymes, breaking the polymer into smaller molecules.
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