A drinks company is changing the design of its reusable bottles. Its supplier makes a polyester from ethane-1,2-diol and terephthalic acid. The acid is deli...
Question 1 Report
A drinks company is changing the design of its reusable bottles. Its supplier makes a polyester from ethane-1,2-diol and terephthalic acid. The acid is delivered as a concentrated solution and is reacted with the diol in a sealed vessel. During the reaction, many small molecules join to make long polymer molecules. Water is produced and removed from the vessel. The polyester is then melted and moulded into bottles. The company is comparing this process with the addition reaction used to make poly ethene bags from ethene gas.
(a) Name the type of polymer made from a diol and a dicarboxylic acid. [1]
(b) State the small molecule removed during this polymerisation. [1]
(c) Complete this word equation.
terephthalic acid + ethane-1,2-diol → ................. + ................. [3]
(d) Explain two differences between this polymerisation and the addition polymerisation of ethene. [4]
(e) Give three actions the company could take to reduce the environmental impact of its used bottles. [3]
(f) When 0.50 mol of water molecules are formed, calculate the mass of water produced. The relative formula mass of water is 18. [2]
(g) Which element is present in the polyester but is not present in poly ethene? [1]
Answer Details
(a) The polymer is a polyester. [1]
(b) The small molecule removed is water. [1]
(c)
terephthalic acid + ethane-1,2-diol → polyester + water [3]
(d) Polyester formation is condensation polymerisation, whereas ethene forms poly ethene by addition polymerisation. Condensation uses two different monomers and produces water; addition polymerisation uses one monomer type and produces no small molecule. In addition polymerisation, ethene's carbon-carbon double bond opens. [4]
(e) Three suitable actions are: collect bottles for recycling, make bottles reusable, and use recycled polymer. Refill stations, reducing the mass of each bottle, preventing litter entering rivers and clear recycling labels are also valid. [3]
(f)
\[m=n\times M_r=0.50\text{ mol}\times18=9.0\text{ g}\]
The mass of water is 9.0 g. [2]
(g) The element present in polyester but not poly ethene is oxygen. [1]
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