Plastics as chemical products of oil

Chemistry, Structures and Bonding, Organic Chemistry, Earth Resources and Metals, Age 14-16

Demonstration of polymerisation with pictures of the uses of different plastics. 13 slides.


1http://teachable.net/res.asp?r=128Chemicals from OilPLASTICS2PlasticsEthene is a monomer that is commonly formed when crude oil is cracked.
Ethene is a very useful molecule as it is the starting material for making many plastics.The structure of ethene3PlasticsPlastics are huge molecules.
They are usually made from long chains of thousands of atoms.
These long chains are called polymers4PolymerisationPolymers are made by joining together thousands of small molecules called monomers.
This process is called polymerisation5PolymerisationEthene is a monomer and an alkene (it decolourises bromine water)
During polymerisation its double bond opens up so that many ethene molecules can join together
This forms the polymer Polythene (= polyethene many ethene molecules)
Many separate ethene moleculesPolymerisation6Many different plastics Different plastics can be made from different monomers.Monomer Polymer
ethene poly(ethene)
styrene poly(styrene)
vinyl chloride poly(vinyl chloride) PVC7Uses of different plasticsNylonPolythenePolypropenePVCPolystyreneClick to find out more8Uses of different plasticsNylonPolythenePolypropenePVCPolystyreneClick to find out more9Uses of Different PlasticsPolyethene
Plastic bags
Rubber ducks
Washing up bowl
Plastic dustbins
10Uses of Different PlasticsPoly(styrene)
Drink containers
Packaging
Ceiling tiles
Yoghurt pots
11Uses of Different PlasticsPoly(vinyl chloride) PVC
Vinyl records
Drainpipes
Window frames
Plastic rain