Propane (C3H8\text{C}_3\text{H}_8C3H8) is used as a starting material to manufacture addition polymers. It is first cracked to form ethene (C2H4\text{C}_2\text{H}_4C2H4).
Identify the gas that also forms in this reaction.
Propane is described as saturated. What feature of a propane molecule is responsible for this description?
Chlorine can undergo an addition reaction with ethene. (i) Complete the equation to show the displayed formula of the product of the reaction between ethene and chlorine.
HH∣∣C=C∣∣HH+Cl−Cl→ \begin{array}{ccc} \text{H} & & \text{H} \\ | & & | \\ \text{C} & = & \text{C} \\ | & & | \\ \text{H} & & \text{H} \end{array} + \text{Cl}-\text{Cl} \rightarrow H∣C∣H=H∣C∣H+Cl−Cl→Which is the correct statement about the test involving bromine water with ethene?
Alkenes can be polymerised. Part of the structure of poly(ethene) can be represented as
HHHH∣∣∣∣−C−C−C−C−∣∣∣∣HHHH \begin{array}{cccc} \text{H} & \text{H} & \text{H} & \text{H} \\ | & | & | & | \\ -\text{C} & -\text{C} & -\text{C} & -\text{C}- \\ | & | & | & | \\ \text{H} & \text{H} & \text{H} & \text{H} \end{array} H∣−C∣HH∣−C∣HH∣−C∣HH∣−C−∣HThis structure shows the atoms coming from two molecules of ethene. Draw part of the structure of poly(but-1-ene) that shows the atoms coming from two molecules of but-1-ene (CH2=CH−CH2−CH3\text{CH}_2=\text{CH}-\text{CH}_2-\text{CH}_3CH2=CH−CH2−CH3).
The repeat unit of another addition polymer can be represented as
HCl∣∣−C−C−∣∣HH \begin{array}{cc} \text{H} & \text{Cl} \\ | & | \\ -\text{C} & -\text{C}- \\ | & | \\ \text{H} & \text{H} \end{array} H∣−C∣HCl∣−C−∣HDraw the structure of the monomer used to make this polymer.
The disposal of most addition polymers is a problem because they do not biodegrade. (i) What is meant by the term biodegradable?
(ii) Identify the property that prevents addition polymers from easily biodegrading.
