ASHADEEP IIT

Std – 12th Science Sub - Chemistry

DPP - 01

* Answer the following questions.

(1) What are polymers?
(2) What are natural and synthetic polymers? Give two examples of each type.
(3) Define the term polymerisation.
(4) Identify the natural polymers from the following.
Backelite, Gum, Starch, Nylon, PVC, Amino acid, Cellulose, PAN
(5) What should be the degree of polymerisation for fevicol?

*****DETAILED SOLUTION*****

(1) Sol: Polymers are high molecular mass substances consisting of large number of repeating
structural units. They are also called as macromolecules. Some examples of polymers are
polythene, bakelite, rubber, nylon 6, 6 etc.
(2) Sol: Natural Polymers – These are substances of natural origin, i.e., these are found in nature
mainly in plants and animals. The well known natural polymers are proteins (polymers of amino
acids), polysaccharides (polymers of monosaccharides), etc.
Synthetic Polymers – These are man made polymers i.e., polymers synthesised in laboratory. These
include synthetic plastics, fibres and synthetic rubber. Specific examples are polythene and dacron.
(3) Sol: The process of joining together of a large number of simple small molecules (monomers) to
make very large molecules (polymer) is termed polymerisation.

nCH 2  CH 2 
Polymerisation
 n [ CH 2  CH 2 ] 
 [CH 2  CH 2 
]n
Ethene Repeting unt Polythene poymer

(4) Gum, Starch, Amino acid, Cellulose

(5) n < 25