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Chemistry HKCEE Past Paper Plastics and DetergentsP.

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Section 8: Plastics and Detergents


1. (a) State the structural characteristics of a detergent. Hence, explain why detergents can remove oily
dirt.
(b) Suggest, with explanation, an environmental consequence associated with the discharge of waste
water containing detergents into rivers and lakes. (5 marks)
[2001-CE-6c]

2. A soap can be prepared from a fat with the following structure:


O
CH2O C (CH2)16CH3
O
CHO C (CH2)16CH3
O
CH2O C (CH2)16CH3

(a) Draw the structure of the soap formed.


(b) Briefly describe how the soap can be prepared from the fat in the laboratory.
(c) Explain why the soap can remove greasy dirt from clothes.
(d) Do you agree with the statement below? Justify your answer with TWO reasons. ‘Soap is better than
soapless detergent for domestic cleaning.’ (9 marks)
[2005-CE-S-12]

3. (a) Polystyrene is a plastic with a wide range of uses. It has the following structure
Chemistry HKCEE Past Paper Plastics and DetergentsP.2/7

(i) Draw the structure of styrene, the monomer of polystyrene.

(ii) Suggest why polystyrene does NOT have a constant relative molecular mass. (2 marks)

(b) Polystyrene can be prepared from styrene using the set-up shown below:

(i) Name apparatus A.


(ii) Suggest, with explanation, a safety precaution that should be taken in the preparation.
(iii) Name the type of polymerisation involved in the formation of polystyrene from its
monomer. (4 marks)
(c) Plastics are very useful materials. Many objects previously made with metals are now made
with plastics. For each of the following objects, suggest ONE advantage of using plastics
over using metals in making the object.
(i) the casing for an electric rice cooker
(ii) a drainage pipe
(iii) helmet for a soldier (3 marks)
[2005-CE-6]

4. Vegetable oils are esters formed from carboxylic acids with long carbon chains. Although
vegetable oils have high calorific values comparable to diesel, they are not used directly as fuel in
cars. One of the reasons is due to their high viscosity. By heating with methanol in the presence
of sodium hydroxide solution, vegetable oils can be converted to less viscous esters, methyl
carboxylates. These methyl carboxylates can be used to substitute diesel as fuel in cars.
The equation below show, the conversion of vegetable oil X to methyl carboxylate Y and alcohol
Z:
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(a) Draw the structure of Z.


(b) Suggest why V is less viscous than X.
(c) Sodium hydroxide solution acts as a catalyst in this conversion. What is the meaning of
the term ‘catalyst?
(d) Y and Z are immiscible liquids. Suggest a method to separate Y and Z from their mixture.
(5 marks)
(e) The term ‘biodiesel’ refers to the methyl carboxylates obtained-from vegetable oils.
Suggest TWO reasons why biodiesel is considered a more environmentally-friendly fuel
than diesel.
(2 marks)
[2005-CE-11]

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