Question

1. polystyrene can be made from the monomer, styrene.

(a) describe, in terms of molecules, how polystyrene is produced from styrene. 2
(b) draw the structure of the repeat unit of polystyrene in the space below. 1

Explanation:

Describe the polymerization process

Many monomer molecules of styrene join together to form a single long-chain polymer molecule called polystyrene. This process is called addition polymerization, where the carbon-carbon double bonds (\(\text{C}=\text{C}\)) in the styrene monomers break, allowing them to link together without the formation of any other products.

Determine the repeat unit structure

To draw the repeat unit of polystyrene, we convert the carbon-carbon double bond (\(\text{C}=\text{C}\)) of the vinyl group in styrene into a single bond (\(\text{C}-\text{C}\)). We then extend single bonds outwards from these two carbon atoms to represent the links to adjacent units. The benzene ring (phenyl group) remains attached to one of the carbon atoms.

Answer:

Question 19(a)

Many styrene monomer molecules join together to form a single long-chain polymer molecule (polystyrene) through addition polymerization, during which the carbon-carbon double bonds break to link the monomers together.

Question 19(b)

The structure of the repeat unit of polystyrene is:

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(Note: \(\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\) represents the benzene ring attached to the carbon chain.)