Q1.

In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information clearly and
using specialist terms where appropriate.
There are millions of plastic bags in use. After use most of these plastic bags are buried in
landfill sites. The amount sent to landfill could be reduced if the plastic bags:
could be reused
could be recycled by melting and making them into new plastic products
could be burned to release energy.
Use the information above and your knowledge and understanding to give the positive and
negative environmental impacts of using these methods to reduce the amount of plastic bags
sent to landfill.
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(Total 6 marks)

Q2. In 1939 a scientist opened the valve on a new cylinder of tetrafluoroethene gas. No gas came
out.

He cut the cylinder open and found that the gas had changed into a white solid. This solid was
an addition polymer.
(a) Give the name of the addition polymer that formed inside the cylinder.
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(1)

(b) The structure of this polymer can be represented by the diagram below.

Draw the structure of the monomer, tetrafluoroethene, from which it is formed.

(2)

(c) Describe how this addition polymer forms from monomers.

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(3)
(Total 6 marks)

Q3. (a) PEX is a material that is used as an alternative to copper for hot water pipes.
PEX is made from poly(ethene).
(i) Describe how ethene forms poly(ethene).
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(2)

(ii) PEX is a shape memory polymer. What property does a shape memory polymer have?
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(1)

(iii) The simplified structures of poly(ethene) and PEX are shown.

Poly(ethene) PEX
Poly(ethene) is a thermoplastic that softens easily when heated.
Suggest and explain how the structure of PEX changes this property.
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(3)

(b) Copper was considered to be the most suitable material to use for hot water pipes.
PEX is now used as an alternative material for hot water pipes.
Copper is extracted from its ore by a series of processes.
1 The low-grade ore is powdered and concentrated.
2 Smelting is carried out in an oxygen flash furnace. This furnace is heated to 1100 C
using a hydrocarbon fuel. The copper ore is blown into the furnace with air,
producing impure, molten copper.
3 Oxygen is blown into the impure, molten copper to remove any sulfur. The copper is
cast into rectangular slabs.
4 The final purification of copper is done by electrolysis.
PEX is made from crude oil by a series of processes.
1 Fractional distillation
2 Cracking
3 Polymerisation
4 Conversion of poly(ethene) into PEX
Suggest the possible environmental advantages of using PEX instead of copper for hot water
pipes.
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(4)
(Total 10 marks)

M1. Marks awarded for this answer will be determined by the Quality
of Written Communication (QWC) as well as the standard of the
scientific response.
No relevant content.
0 marks

There is a brief description of a positive and a negative environmental

impact involved with one or more methods used to reduce the
amount of plastic bags sent to landfill.
Level 1 (12 marks)

There is some description of both positive and negative

environmental impacts involved with at least 2 methods used
to reduce the amount of plastic bags sent to landfill.
Level 2 (34 marks)

There is a clear, balanced and detailed description of both a

positive and a negative environmental impact of using each
of the 3 methods used to reduce the amount of plastic bags
sent to landfill.
Level 3 (56 marks)

examples of the points made in the response

Reuse:
Reuse means less bags used so:
Positive environmental impact
Saves raw materials/crude oil
Saves energy
Cuts down on CO2 emissions
Less global warming
Negative environmental impact
Could cause litter
Could still be sent to landfill
Recycle:
Bags can be recycled so:
Positive environmental impact
Used to make new plastic bags / objects
Saves raw materials / crude oil
Saves energy compared to producing plastic bags from crude oil
Cuts down on CO2 emissions
Less global warming
Negative environmental impact
Collection point sites cause an eyesore / litter problem
Transportation to recycling plant releases carbon dioxide / causes global warming

Burn:
Bags can be burned so:
Positive environmental impact
Could provide energy for heating buildings
Could provide energy for generating electricity
Negative environmental impact
Increases CO2 emissions
Increases global warming
Could release toxic gases
Does not conserve raw materials / crude oil
[6]

M2. (a) polytetrafluoroethene

1

(b)

4 single bonds C-F

1

1 double bond C=C

1

(c) many tetrafluoroethene monomers / molecules

1

join / bond together

accept higher level answer relating to double bond opening
1

to form a very large molecule / chain

1

[6]

M3. (a) (i) many ethene / molecules / monomers

accept double bonds open / break
1

join to form a long hydrocarbon / chain / large molecule

accept addition polymerisation

ignore references to ethane

correct equation gains 2 marks
1

(ii) (can be deformed but) return to their original shape (when

heated or cooled)
ignore it remembers its shape
1

(iii) cross links / extra bonds in PEX

accept inter-molecular bonds
ignore inter-molecular forces
1

molecules / chains in PEX are held in position

accept rigid structure
1

molecules / chains in PEX unable to slide past each other / move

it = PEX throughout
1

(b) any four from:

less (hydrocarbon) fuels used
allow less energy
less / no electrical energy used
allow no electrolysis
reduce carbon / carbon dioxide emissions
allow less global warming
reduce / no pollution by sulfur dioxide / acid rain
continuous process
allow less / no transportation
conserve copper which is running out or only low-grade ores available
reduce the amount of solid waste rock that needs to be disposed
allow less waste
reduce the need to dig large holes (to extract copper ores)
allow less mining
ignore costs / sustainability / non-renewable
4

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