The synthesis and decompositon of synthetic substances

14 important questions on The synthesis and decompositon of synthetic substances

What is a synthesis reaction?

Most of the time a combination of complicated reactions will lead to a new product

What is the base material for polyethylene and how is it made?

ethylene, when it is mixed with a catalyst and heated to about 60-80 degrees polyethylene is foormed.

What happens during a polymerisation reaction?

a monomer reacts to form a polymer, a substance with long molecules ( a large number of ethylene molecules are connected to orm a long polytethylene molecule)
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What is a monomer?

A base material, such as ethylene, consists of small molecules.

How was crude oil formed?

from the remains of plants. These plants have taken up carbon dioxide rom the atmosphere as they were growing millions of years ago. This is a process that has taken millions of years as well and it gradually changed the atmosphere into the composition we now know.

Why will a synthetic polymer, made from crude oil, on combustion cause the greenhouse-effect to increase?

When the polyethylene which is formed this way, is burned in an incinerator, after having been used, arbon dioxide is formed. The carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere. Because millions of years have gone by since the uptake of the carbon dioxide, the emission of this carbon dioxide will change the composition of the atmosphere.

What is a bio based synthetic polymer?

A synthetic polymer, made from vegetable material

Is a bio based synthetic polymer sustainable?

Yes, on combustion of such a synthetic polymer the greenhouse-effect is hardly influenced

What happens with the pellets in factories?

The pellets are heated. This softens them. Now the soft polyethylene is extruded into a die in the shape of the object you want. The die is cooled down and the polyethylene hardens.

How is the production of plastic bags done?

film blowing:
- from the head of a so-clled extruder, a soft mass i the shape of a tube with a very thin wall protrudes
- thsi tube is now blown up with air, forming a gigantic plastic tube of a very thin film.
- Once it has cooled down, the ow formed plastic film is rolled up

Waht is are thermo softening polymers?

A synthetic polymer that softens when it is heated. They can be processed into products by, among other things, injection moulding

What is a thermosetting polymer?

A synthetic polymer that does not soten when it is heated.

What are bio plastics?

biologically degradable synthetic polymers. These syntheti polymers can, after use, be turned into compost along with the raaw vegetable wast. In nature many of these synthetic polymers can also be broken down by bacteria into substanes that can be used again as nutrients by plants.

In which three ways can bio plastic be made?

- As a basae material natural monomers can be used. The monomer lactic acid, for example can be made from the natural substances sugar or starch. From this monomer the bio plastic polylactic acid can be  produced

- Certain micro-organisms can produce bio plasics. A lot of research is done into the formation of bio plastics with the aid of bateria and yeasts

- As a base material natural polyers cnan be used, such as starcha nd cellulose. From these natural polymers synthetic polymers that are bio degradable in nature have already been developed.

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