Module 6

Module 6—Petrochemicals

Explore

There is plastic in almost everything around you. Plastics are polymers—macromolecules created by linking many smaller molecules. The small molecules that make up a polymer are called monomers. The process of joining monomers together is called polymerization.

Self-Check

In Lesson 1 of this module you organized diagrams of the chemical structures for different petrochemical compounds based on structural similarities. In this activity you will review those diagrams to learn more about polymers. Retrieve those diagrams now.

Step 1: Sort through the diagrams and find the molecules with the term “poly” in their name.

Step 2: Sort through the remaining diagrams. For each polymer identified in Step 1, find the card that contains the corresponding monomer.

SC 1. Prepare a chart with two columns. The left-hand column should be titled “Polymer” and the right-hand column should be titled “Corresponding Monomer.” Complete the chart based on your work in Steps 1 and 2.

SC 2. Identify the similarity between all the monomers listed in your table. Suggest a mechanism by which the monomers can be joined to become a polymer.

SC 3. Sort through the remaining cards and identify any other substances that could be monomers. Justify why you chose these molecules.

As you have seen from this Self-Check activity, there are many kinds of polymers. Polymers made from petrochemicals are often called plastics because they have the ability to be moulded. You may be familiar with other kinds of polymers, like polyester, which will be discussed in Lesson 6. As you may have guessed, polyesters have a different chemistry than addition polymers, the topic of this lesson.

Read

Read pages 445–447 in the textbook to learn more about addition reactions—one of the mechanisms by which addition polymers can be formed.

Try This

Teflon: Healthy or Hazardous?

When Teflon was first used as a non-stick agent in cookware, it was considered revolutionary. Teflon was an exciting find for people watching their weight or cholesterol, because it allowed food to be cooked with little or no oil. Is there more to the Teflon story? Is Teflon toxic?

TR 1. Open “Web Activity: Web Quest—Teflon: Healthy or Hazardous” referenced on page 448 in the textbook. Read the instructions and discuss which parts of the project you will be responsible for with your teacher. Complete the activity. Go to the website for the textbook if you need live links to the websites and documents referenced. Information to help you find the activity on the website is available in the print version linked into this paragraph.

When you have completed the activity, contact your teacher for further instructions on submitting and/or sharing your presentation.

Save a copy of your work and your presentation in your course folder.

Self-Check

SC 4. Complete “Practice” questions 1–8 on page 448 of the textbook.

Discuss

Plastics form part of almost every product you use, and they have added convenience to many areas of your life. Cars, computers, cell phones, water bottles, and baby bottles all contain plastic. Even most of your food and toiletries come in plastic containers. As a result, even with recycling programs, many landfills are full of plastic.

D 1. Think about everything you have learned so far in Module 6. Do you think the way society uses plastics is a good use of the natural resource from which plastics originate? Write a few paragraphs to provide your opinion on this question.

Post your response to the discussion area for your class. Read the responses of at least two other students. Identify similarities and differences in the responses you read. Save a copy of your opinion and the similarities and differences you identified in your course folder.