FORMATION AND STRUCTURE

OF POLYMERS
for General Chemistry 1/ Grade 12
Quarter 2/ Module 8

NegOr_Q2_GenChem1-12_SLK Week8_v2
 FOREWORD

Chemistry is considered by some as the central science

because it deals with the matter. By definition, the matter is
anything that occupies space and has mass and almost
everything in this universe is a form of it. Compositions,
structures, properties, and, even changes in matter are the
concerns of chemistry. By studying it, we can understand the
fundamentals and concepts of nature. Knowing nature is
important since we are part of it, it is not only a crucial step in
being a human but also a great help in finding synergies
between living and non-living. In addition, chemistry plays a
crucial role in these challenging times like the recent Covid-19
pandemic. The detection, isolation, quantification,
prevention, and even finding a cure need an understanding
of chemistry.
This Self Learning Kit (SLK) on Chemistry 1 provides an
insight into how chemistry works as a discipline of science.
Specifically, stoichiometry is fundamental in understanding
chemical reactions in quantitative terms.

2 NegOr_Q2_GenChem1-12_SLK Week8_v2
Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
K : describe the formation, structure, and properties of polymers.
S : show how common polymers formed.
A : appreciate that polymers are needed as materials for
different products used by humans.

LEARNING COMPTENCIES:
- Describe the formation and structure of polymers
(STEM_GC11OCIIg-j-91)
- Explain the properties of some polymers in terms of their structure
(STEM_GC11OCIIg-j-93)

I. WHAT HAPPENED
PRE-ACTIVITIES/PRE-TEST

Activity 1. Collecting plastic and identification.

Materials needed: Different plastics materials
Procedure:
1. Collect different materials.
2. Give a brief description of the material.
3. On the material, look for a code (shown below) and identify
the plastic materials.

Source: https://blog.genpak.com/2018/05/08/knowing-your-plastics-recycling-symbols-no-1-to-7/

Based on the activity why do you think that plastics are

being coded? What are the pros and cons of using plastics?

A. True or false. Write true if the statement is correct and false if the
statement is incorrect.
_______ 1. Plastics are considered organic compounds.
3 NegOr_Q2_GenChem1-12_SLK Week8_v2
 _______ 2. Marine organisms can eat mistakenly plastic and
cannot undergo digestion.
_______ 3. There are many alternatives to single-use plastic
products.
_______ 4. Biodegradable means it can only be decomposed by
animals.
_______ 5. It is advisable to burn plastic waste.

II. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

DISCUSSION:

Reactions Used to Make Polymer

The polymer can usually be made in one step in which the major
reactant is a substance consisting of small, simple organic molecules
called monomers. A monomer is a molecule that is a building block of
a polymer. Upon reaction of polymers, monomers bond together one
after another in a rapid series of steps.

One common reaction for producing a polymer is addition

polymerization in a presence of a catalyst (substances that speeds up
the reaction). The starting material is a monomer that contains at least
one double bond. The general reaction is shown below:

As seen above, the reaction proceeds in the presence of a

catalyst, and the length of the polymers made depends upon the
number of monomers present represented by n. The wavy lines
represent the new bond that was formed upon the addition of the
monomer as it increases its length. The first step in addition to
polymerization is initiated by a cation, anion, and free radical. As a
results the monomer becomes a charge specie or a radical specie
and will seek other monomers, the step is known as propagation. The
4 NegOr_Q2_GenChem1-12_SLK Week8_v2
reaction will stop until all the monomers were consumed or a certain
chemical is added for termination.

Cationic Polymerization – is initiated by an initiator which is a

cation and the growing chain bears a positive charge.

Anionic Polymerization – is initiated by an initiator which is an

anion and the growing chain bears a negative charge.

5 NegOr_Q2_GenChem1-12_SLK Week8_v2
Common Polymer and its Monomer

There are a lot of polymers that are being used in different

applications. Below are some common polymers, their general
formula, monomers needed, their properties, and their uses.

Structure and Properties of Polymers

Many common classes of polymers are composed of

hydrocarbons, compounds of carbon and hydrogen. These polymers
are specifically made of carbon atoms bonded together, one to the
next, into long chains that are called the backbone of the polymer.
Because of the nature of carbon, one or more other atoms can be
attached to each carbon atom in the backbone. There are polymers
that contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms. Polyethylene,

6 NegOr_Q2_GenChem1-12_SLK Week8_v2
polypropylene, polybutylene, polystyrene, and polymethylpentene are
examples of these. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has chlorine attached to
the all-carbon backbone. Teflon has fluorine attached to the all-
carbon backbone. The following list describes some of the important
properties of a polymer:

Heat capacity/Heat conductivity - the extent to which the plastic or

polymer acts as an effective insulator against the flow of heat.

Thermal expansion - the extent to which the polymer expands or

contracts when heated or cooled. Thermal expansion is also
concerned with the question of whether the polymer expands or
contracts by the same amount in all directions. Polymers are usually
anisotropic (physical property that has a different value when
measured in different directions). They contain strong covalent bonds
along the polymer chain and much weaker dispersive forces between
the polymer chains. As a result, polymers can expand by differing
amounts in different directions.

Crystallinity - the extent to which the polymer chains are arranged in a

regular structure instead of a random fashion.

Permeability - the tendency of a polymer to pass extraneous materials.

Elastic modulus - the force it takes to stretch the plastic in one direction.

Tensile strength - the strength of the plastic. The force must be applied
in one direction to stretch the plastic until it breaks.

Resilience - the ability of the plastic to resist abrasion and wear.

Refractive index - the extent to which the plastic affects light as it

passes through the polymer.

7 NegOr_Q2_GenChem1-12_SLK Week8_v2
Resistance to electric current - the ability of a polymer to oppose the
electric current. It describes if the polymer is an insulator or does it
conduct an electric current.

In addition, the physical properties of a polymer depend on; a.)

Chain length – in general, the longer the chains the stronger the
polymer; b.) Side groups – polar side groups give stronger attraction
between polymer chains, making the polymer stronger; c.) Branching –
straight, unbranched chains can pack together more closely than
highly branched chains, giving polymers that are more crystalline and
therefore generally stronger; and d.) Cross-linking – if polymer chains
are linked together extensively by covalent bonds, the polymer is
harder and more difficult to melt.

III. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

EVALUATION/POST TEST:

I. True or false. Write true if the statement is correct and false if the
statement is incorrect.
_________ 1. Anionic polymerization is initiated by a positive charge
specie.
_________ 2. It is possible for a polymer to allow electricity to pass
through.
_________ 3. The presence of side groups can affect the tensile
strength of a polymer.
_________ 4. Unbranched chains polymer can pack together more
closely than highly branched chains
_________ 5. The elongation of the chain or monomer in polymerization
reaction is known as initiation.

II. Select the best answer in the box based on the following statement
given.

Resilience Fluorine Thermal expansion

Cation Styrene Crystallinity
Termination Ethene Refractive index
Tensile strength
8 NegOr_Q2_GenChem1-12_SLK Week8_v2
____________1. The ability of the plastic to resist abrasion and wear.
____________2. The extent to which the polymer expands or contracts
when heated or cooled.
____________3. The extent to which the polymer chains are arranged in
a regular structure instead of a random fashion.
____________4. An addition polymerization that contains a positive
charge.
____________5. The last step is the polymerization reaction.
____________6. The monomer of polystyrene or also known as
styrofoam.
___________ 7. The halogen that is present in Teflon.
___________ 8. The extent to which the plastic affects light as it passes
through the polymer.
___________ 9. The force takes to stretch the plastic in one direction.
___________10. The monomer of polyethylene.

REFERENCES

Bailey, P. S., and Bailey CA. "Organic chemistry: a brief survey of

concepts and applications." (2008).

“Properties of Polymers.” n.d. Chemed.Chem.Purdue.Edu. Accessed

September 8, 2020.
http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/1
polymer/property.html#:~:text=They%20contain%20strong%20c
ovalent%20bonds.

Reusch, William. 2013. “Polymers.” Msu.Edu. 2013.

https://www2.chemistry.msu.edu/faculty/reusch/VirtTxtJml/poly
mers.htm.

“Anionic Polymerization.” n.d. Studylib.Net. Accessed September 8,

2020. https://studylib.net/doc/5792184/anionic-polymerization.

“Polymers: An Overview.” 2013. Essentialchemicalindustry.Org. 2013.

https://www.essentialchemicalindustry.org/polymers/polymers-
an-overview.html.
9 NegOr_Q2_GenChem1-12_SLK Week8_v2
 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF NEGROS ORIENTAL

SENEN PRISCILLO P. PAULIN, CESO V

Schools Division Superintendent

JOELYZA M. ARCILLA EdD

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

MARCELO K. PALISPIS EdD JD

OIC – Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

NILITA L. RAGAY EdD

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent/CID Chief

ROSELA R. ABIERA
Education Program Supervisor – (LRMDS)

ARNOLD R. JUNGCO
PSDS – Division Science Coordinator

MARICEL S. RASID
Librarian II (LRMDS)

ELMAR L. CABRERA
PDO II (LRMDS)

GERALD T. UBAG
Lay-Out Artist

EUFRATES G. ANSOK JR.

Writer
_________________________________

ALPHA QA TEAM
ALLAN Z. ALBERTO
SEGUNDINO B. DELES JR.
MANASSES V. JABALDE
AGUSTINA C. OMAGUING
VERONICA A. RECTO

BETA QA TEAM
ZENAIDA A. ACADEMIA RANJEL D. ESTIMAR
ALLAN Z. ALBERTO MARIA SALOME B. GOMEZ
DORIN FAYE D. CADAYDAY JUSTIN PAUL ASERNIO C. KINAMOT
MERCY G. DAGOY ARJIE T. PALUMPA
ROWENA R. DINOKOT LESTER C. PABALINAS

DISCLAIMER

The information, activities and assessments used in this material are designed to provide accessible learning modality
to the teachers and learners of the Division of Negros Oriental. The contents of this module are carefully researched, chosen, and
evaluated to comply with the set learning competencies. The writers and evaluator were clearly instructed to give credits to
information and illustrations used to substantiate this material. All content is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced in
any form without division.

10 NegOr_Q2_GenChem1-12_SLK Week8_v2
SYNOPSIS ANSWERS KEY
This Self-Learning Kit
polymer is a material that is
commonly used in our everyday
living. It discusses common with a
general discussion on how
polymers form from basic subunits
called monomers. In addition, it
discusses the different properties of
polymers that are exploited to be
used as a material for different
purposes. The different discussions
will broaden your understanding of
polymers a common material for
everyday living.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pre-Activities/Pre-test
EUFRATES G. ANSOK JR., is (student
I. Activity a licensed will chemist
have and
a licensed teacher. He took his BS Chemistryon
variations of answer depending at
NORSU and BS the materials they
Secondary gather but
Education – Crash
regardless
Program at Foundation of the materials
University. they will
In addition, he
answer that it is advisable
is master degree holder of Master of Chemistry atto
USC with PhD reduce,
units inreuse and recycle plastic.
Education major in
In recycling it is advisable to know
Chemistry at UP-OU. Currently teaching fulltime at
the plastic code for ease of
Siaton Sciencerecycling
High process)
School Senior High
Department at the
II. True or False a part-time faculty
same time
member of the Chemistry Department at NORSU.
1. True 4. False
2. True 5. False
ILLUSTRATOR, LAY-OUT ARTIST 3. True

CLIFFORD JAY G. Evaluation/Post-test

ANSOK, is a graduate of BS
I. True or False
Information Technology at Foundation University.
1. False 4. True
He took his BS2. TrueSecondary
5. False
Education at La
Consolation College
3. Trueand is a licensed teacher.
Currently a senior
II. 1.High School
Resilience, Teacher and a
2. Thermal
part-time facultyexpansion,
at NORSU3.– Crystallinity,
Siaton Campus.
4. Cation, 5. Termination,
6. Styrene, 7. Fluorine,
11 8. Refractive index, 9. Tensile
NegOr_Q2_GenChem1-12_SLK Week8_v2
strength, 10. Ethene