Polymers

Chemistry, SSC-Punjab Class 10. This chapter is split into 24 topics and has 518 practice questions. The topics covered are listed below, followed by 10 free sample questions from the chapter.

Topics in this chapter

1. Formation of PET 21 questions
2. Condensation polymerisation 22 questions
3. Applications of polymers: scenarios 21 questions
4. Polyamides and nylon 23 questions
5. Classifying polymers 22 questions
6. Plastics and their uses 23 questions
7. Reading polymer structures and linkages 22 questions
8. Exercise review: polymers 22 questions
9. Polymers integrated review 20 questions
10. Addition polymerisation of ethene 21 questions
11. Importance and properties of polymers 20 questions
12. Recycling of PET 21 questions
13. Types of polymers: addition and condensation 20 questions
14. Common addition polymers and their monomers 23 questions
15. Polymers and monomers 22 questions
16. Natural polymers: carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids 20 questions
17. Addition versus condensation polymerisation: monomers and products 22 questions
18. Addition versus condensation polymerisation: differences 24 questions
19. Calculations on addition polymers 21 questions
20. Calculations on condensation polymers 23 questions
21. Deducing the monomer of an addition polymer 20 questions
22. Deducing the monomers of a condensation polymer 22 questions
23. Synthetic fibres in the textile industry 22 questions
24. Adverse effects of plastics on the environment 21 questions

Sample questions: Polymers

10 sample questions with the correct answer and an explanation. Try to answer each one before reading the explanation.

Q1. What are polymers?

• A. extremely large molecules formed by linking together a very large number of simple molecular units(correct answer)
• B. ionic compounds formed by transfer of electrons between metals and non-metals
• C. gases formed by heating a small number of identical atoms together
• D. very small molecules formed by splitting one single large molecule into several parts in a reactor

Answer: A.The book defines polymers or macromolecules as extremely large molecules formed by linking a very large number of simple molecular units called monomers.

Q2. Which of these are examples of man-made polymers according to the book?

• A. starch and cellulose
• B. carbohydrates and proteins
• C. plastics and synthetic fibres(correct answer)
• D. DNA and RNA nucleic acids of the cells

Answer: C.The book lists plastics, synthetic fibres and (wrongly) natural rubber as man-made; the natural ones are carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids.

Q3. The properties of polymers can be changed by:

• A. cooling them to room temperature only
• B. stirring them gently in plain water
• C. changing only the colour and the shape of the container that is used
• D. careful control of their chemical structure and composition(correct answer)

Answer: D.The Interesting Information says properties can be changed by careful control of their chemical structure and composition.

Q4. How many water molecules are eliminated per repeat unit of PET (one diacid + one diol)?

• A. 0
• B. 1
• C. 3
• D. 2(correct answer)

Answer: D.Forming the repeat unit connects both -COOH groups to -OH groups, losing two H₂O (the book's 'repeat unit' loses water at each ester).

Q5. Which reverse reaction can break the ester linkages in PET?

• A. polymerisation
• B. addition of hydrogen
• C. oxidation with oxygen
• D. hydrolysis with water(correct answer)

Answer: D.Water (with an acid or base) reverses the esterification and gives the diol and diacid (consistent with the book's H⁺/OH⁻ conditions).

Q6. Exercise 26.4 asks whether natural polymers are hazardous for the environment. The correct answer is:

From your book: Exercise 26.4 (page 164) Full page Open book

• A. no, they are biodegradable and break down into harmless substances(correct answer)
• B. yes, because they accumulate in the oceans
• C. yes, because they release toxic gases when buried
• D. yes, because they last for 1000 years

Answer: A.Natural polymers such as starch and proteins are broken down by organisms (the book says plastics, unlike other materials, do not biodegrade).

Q7. A polymer has the repeat unit -CO-(CH₂)₄-CO-NH-(CH₂)₆-NH-. Which monomers form it?

• A. ethane diol and terephthalic acid, as in PET
• B. glycine and alanine amino acids
• C. hexanedioic acid and hexane-1,6-diamine(correct answer)
• D. two molecules of ethene gas

Answer: C.CO-(CH₂)₄-CO comes from HOOC-(CH₂)₄-COOH and NH-(CH₂)₆-NH from the diamine (nylon 6,6; standard example using the book's method).

Q8. 3D printing uses polymers by:

• A. dissolving the polymer in water and in alcohol
• B. freezing the polymer in ice
• C. layer-by-layer deposition of the polymer(correct answer)
• D. burning the polymer in the air

Answer: C.The Interesting Information says polymers can be 3D printed by layer-by-layer deposition to create three-dimensional objects.

Q9. A shop wants a clothing fibre that is cheap, strong and does not shrink. Which fibre fits the book's properties best?

• A. silk
• B. cotton
• C. polyester(correct answer)
• D. wool

Answer: C.The book lists lower cost, strength and resistance to shrinking as properties of synthetic fibres, with polyester noted for strength and no shrinkage.

Q10. Which option best explains why synthetic fibres have largely replaced cotton in many clothes?

• A. they are more expensive but much softer
• B. they are cheaper, stronger, quick drying and moth-resistant(correct answer)
• C. they absorb much more water than cotton does and so dry very slowly
• D. they are natural and biodegradable

Answer: B.The book lists these advantages (cheaper, stronger, no shrinking, resist wrinkles, light and quick drying, moth resistant).