Lesson Plan

Lesson : Polymers (II)

Aim :

To study the mechanisms involved for addition polymerisation and the different types of
polymers.

Learning Outcomes :

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to :

• describe the three main types of addition polymerization mechanism

• explain the use and role of Ziegler-Natta catalyst in addition polymerisation

• classify polymers are thermoplastic, thermosetting plastics or elastomers.

Assumed prior knowledge :

Students should already be familiar with :

1. addition polymerisation

2. the concept of free radicals and nucleophiles.

Underlying Principles

1. Making the invisible, visible.

2. Enabling students to know what to look for.

Differentiation

Questions in the student notes are designed to enable all students to complete the activity.
The pop-up answers are provided for the students to view when they have considered their
responses. Worksheet questions include questions that require recall, understanding and
application of the new concepts learned.

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 1 of 4

Development of Lesson :

No. Steps Strategy Resources

1 Set Induction.
(Ascertaining prior • Teacher to get students to recall how
knowledge and addition polymerisation takes place
introducing lesson between alkene monomers.
topic for the day). • Teacher to point out lesson objectives for
the day.

2 Student Activity Teacher to go through Activities 1-3 with • Courseware

the students.

Activity 1 : Mechanisms

Students get to view the mechanisms for

free radical addition polymerisation,
cationic addition polymerisation and
anionic addition polymerisation.

Activity 2 : Ziegler-Natta catalyst

Students get to view the stereochemical

configurations of polymers and learn that
the presence of Ziegler-Natta catalysts
results in the production of isotactic and
syndiotactic polymers.

Activity 3 : Types of polymers

Students get to study how polymers are

classified as thermoplastics,
thermosetting plastics and elastomers.

3 Evaluation • Students to answer questions in the • Worksheet

student worksheet on their own.

4 Extension activity • Students to read up reference materials • References

on their own.

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 2 of 4

Worksheet Answers

1. Mechanisms

1.1 H CH3
 
a.  C  C 
 
H CH3 n

b. Addition polymer

c. This is because 2-methylpropene attaches itself to the cationic end of

growing chain. The intermediate is a tertiary carbocation that is stabilised

by two methyl groups which are electron-releasing.

1.2 This is because phenylethene can form a relatively stable cation.

H CH3 H CH3
\ /  /
R+ + C C R  C  C+
/ \  \
H CH3 H CH3

2-Methylpropene tertiary carbocation

H H
\ /  /
R+ + C C R  C  C+
/ \  \
H H H H

Phenylethene benzylic carbocation

H CN H CN
\ /  /
R+ + C C R  C  C+
/ \  \
H H H H

Propanenitrile destabilised carbocation

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 3 of 4

2. Ziegler-Natta catalyst

2.1 Isotactic poly(propanonitrile)

H CN H CN H CN H CN H CN H CN H CN

Syndiotactic poly(phenylethene)

H R R H H R R H H R R H H R

where R =

3. Types of polymers

3.1 a. Thermoplastic is hard at room temperature but it becomes soft and viscous
when heated. Consequently, thermoplastic can be moulded repeatedly into
different shapes. There is little or no cross-linking in thermoplastic.
In contrast, thermosetting plastic is much stronger and rigid due to the
extensive cross-linking. Extensive cross-linking renders the mobility of the
polymer chains causing it to be brittle.

b. An example of thermoplastic is poly(phenylethene).

An example of thermosetting plastic is bakelite.

c. Elastomers are polymers that have the ability to recover to their original
shapes after being stretched or distorted. They are randomly orientated
amorphous polymers where there is a certain degree of cross-linking over
one another. In addition, the chains have an irregular shape to prevent
crystalite formation. When elastomers are stretched, the random chains
stretch out and orient along the direction of the pull. However, van der Waals
forces are too weak to maintain them in that configuration. Hence, when the
stretching force is removed, the elastomers go back to its random coiled
state.
An example of elastomer is natural rubber.

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