plumiAddition polymers: AQA A‑Level Chemistry questions
AQA A-Level Chemistry past-paper questions on 3.3.4.3 Addition polymers, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q03.1
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All 53 questions on Addition polymers, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q03.1 (2 marks): A section of the polymer PVC is shown. Name the monomer used to make PVC. Draw the structure of the monomer used to make PVC. [2 marks] Monomer name Structure
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q03.2 (1 mark): State why PVC is not biodegradable. [1 mark]
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q03.3 (1 mark): Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) is a plasticiser added to PVC to modify its properties. State how the properties of PVC are modified by the addition of DIBP. [1 mar
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q04.3 (1 mark): Vinyl acetate (VA) has the molecular formula C4H6O2 The structure of vinyl acetate is shown. PVA is an addition polymer of vinyl acetate. Draw the repeating uni
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q15 (1 mark): Which is the structure of poly(1-chloropropene)? [1 mark] A B C D
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q09 (1 mark): Which monomer forms this polymer? [1 mark] A but-1-ene B E-but-2-ene C Z-but-2-ene D methylpropene
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q15 (1 mark): Which reaction results in an overall change in shape around a carbon atom? [1 mark] A oxidation of propanal with acidified potassium dichromate(VI) B polymerisa
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q03.4 (2 marks): 2-methylbut-1-ene can form a polymer. State the type of polymerisation. Draw the repeating unit for the polymer formed. [2 marks] Type of polymerisation Repeati
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q10 (1 mark): Which statement about poly(ethene) is correct? [1 mark] A It has a lower relative molecular mass than ethene. B It has a lower density than ethene at standard t
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q11 (1 mark): A polymer is formed from the monomer CH2=CHCN Which statement is not correct? [1 mark] A The monomer is propanenitrile. B The monomer is unsaturated. C The poly
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q05.1 (6 marks): The three key steps in the manufacture of poly(propene) from crude oil are shown. Naphtha is a mixture of alkanes with 6 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule. For ea
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q05.2 (1 mark): Poly(propene) is not biodegradable because it is unreactive. Explain why poly(propene) is unreactive. [1 mark]
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q05.3 (1 mark): Scientists are developing new polymers, including some that are biodegradable. Suggest why it is beneficial for some polymers to be biodegradable. [1 mark]
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q07.3 (1 mark): Prop-2-en-1-ol forms an addition polymer. Draw the repeating unit of poly(prop-2-en-1-ol). [1 mark]
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q06.4 (1 mark): Draw the repeating unit of polystyrene. [1 mark]
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q06.1 (3 marks): Give an equation, showing structural formulas, for the conversion of chloroethene into poly(chloroethene). [3 marks]
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q06.2 (2 marks): State what you would observe if bromine water was added to poly(chloroethene). Explain this observation. [2 marks] Observation Explanation
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q06.3 (2 marks): Plasticisers are often added during the manufacture of PVC. The structure of the plasticiser DEHP is shown. Deduce the molecular formula of DEHP and state why a
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q03.2 (2 marks): The insides of some golf balls are made from a mixture of three other polymers. The repeating unit for one of these polymers is shown. Draw the skeletal formula
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q03.3 (2 marks): A second polymer in the mixture has a repeating unit with the structure shown. The third polymer in the mixture is a stereoisomer of this polymer. Draw the stru
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q03.4 (1 mark): Golf balls recovered from lakes and ponds can be used again even after being in water for several years. Explain why these golf balls do not biodegrade. [1 mark
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q04.4 (1 mark): Draw a section of the polymer polyacrylonitrile, showing three repeating units. [1 mark]
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q04.6 (1 mark): The main use of propene, formed from cracking, is to make poly(propene). Draw the repeating unit of poly(propene). [1 mark]
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q19 (1 mark): Which statement is correct about poly(chloroethene)? [1 mark] A It has the empirical formula CHCl B It decolourises bromine water. C Its brittleness is reduced
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q18 (1 mark): This structure shows a section of a polymer chain formed from the random polymerisation of two different monomers. Which pair of monomers could produce this pol
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q09.1 (2 marks): Chloroethene has a melting point of −154 ºC All types of PVC melt at temperatures over 100 ºC Explain why PVC melts at a higher temperature than chloroethene. [
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q09.2 (1 mark): This structure shows a molecule that has been used as a plasticiser in PVC. Deduce the number of hydrogen atoms in this molecule. [1 mark]
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q09.3 (1 mark): Use your understanding of the properties of PVC to explain whether you would expect to find a plasticiser in the PVC used to insulate electrical cables. [1 mark
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q09.4 (1 mark): A section of the polymer poly(chloroprene), a synthetic rubber, is shown. Draw the displayed formula for the repeating unit of poly(chloroprene). [1 mark] Secti
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q15 (1 mark): The repeating unit of a polymer is Which of the following molecules would form a polymer containing this repeating unit? [1 mark] A But-1-ene B E-but-2-ene C Z-
- Specimen, Paper 2, Q07.1 (2 marks): Monomer Type of polymerisation
- June 2016, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(e)(i) (1 mark): Draw the repeating unit of poly(propene). [1 mark]
- June 2015, CHEM4 (old spec), Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): Give the IUPAC name of a monomer that forms polymer L. [1 mark]
- June 2015, CHEM1 (old spec), Q6(d)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest one important substance manufactured on a large scale from propene. [1 mark]
- June 2015, CHEM2 (old spec), Q6(c)(ii) (1 mark): Deduce the type of polymerisation that results in the formation of this polymer from prop-2-en-1-ol. [1 mark]
- June 2014, CHEM4 (old spec), Q5(e)(ii) (1 mark): The term copolymer is used to describe the product obtained when two or more different monomers form a polymer. Draw the repeating unit of the acrylic copolymer
- June 2014, CHEM4 (old spec), Q5(e)(iii) (1 mark): Name the type of polymerisation involved in Question 5 (e) (ii). [1 mark]
- June 2013, CHEM4 (old spec), Q5(d)(iv) (1 mark): Traditional non-biodegradable plastic cups can be made from poly(phenylethene), commonly known as polystyrene. Draw the repeating unit of poly(phenylethene). (1
- June 2013, CHEM2 (old spec), Q9(b) (1 mark): Draw the repeating unit of the polyalkene formed by addition polymerisation of (E)-but-2-enenitrile. (1 mark)
- June 2013, CHEM2 (old spec), Q10(a)(iii) (2 marks): At pressures higher than 7 MPa, some of the ethene reacts to form a solid with a relative molecular mass greater than 5000 Deduce the identity of this solid. Gi
- January 2013, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): Name the type of polymerisation occurring in the formation of this co-polymer. (1 mark)
- January 2013, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(c)(ii) (2 marks): Draw the structure of each alkene monomer. Alkene monomer 1 Alkene monomer 2 (2 marks)
- January 2013, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(d) (2 marks): One of the three compounds shown in parts (a), (b) and (c) cannot be broken down by hydrolysis. Write the letter (a), (b) or (c) to identify this compound and e
- January 2013, CHEM2 (old spec), Q8(c) (2 marks): State the type of reaction in Reaction 3. Give the name of substance X. (2 marks)
- June 2011, CHEM4 (old spec), Q5(b) (1 mark): Draw the displayed formula of the repeating unit of poly(chloroethene). (1 mark)
- January 2011, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(c)(iii) (1 mark): The organic product from part 4 (c) (ii) can also be polymerised. Draw the repeating unit of the polymer formed from this organic product. (1 mark)
- January 2011, CHEM1 (old spec), Q4(d)(iii) (1 mark): State one type of useful solid material that could be formed from alkenes. (1 mark) Section B Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
- June 2010, CHEM4 (old spec), Q3(c) (2 marks): Draw the repeating unit of the polymer formed by B and name the type of polymerisation involved. Repeating unit Type of polymerisation (2 marks)
- January 2010, CHEM2 (old spec), Q7(d)(i) (1 mark): State the type of polymerisation that alkenes undergo. (1 mark)
- January 2010, CHEM2 (old spec), Q7(d)(ii) (1 mark): Name the alkene that gives a polymer with the repeating unit shown below. Name of alkene (1 mark) C CH3 H C H CH3
- June 2008, CHM4 (2008 spec), Q4(b) (2 marks): 4 (b) The repeating unit shown below represents the polymer commonly known as poly(vinyl acetate) or PVA. CH2 CH O C O CH3 4 (b) (i) Draw the structure of the m
- June 2008, CHM6W (2008 spec), Q11 (1 mark): 11 Which one of the following reactions produces a compound that could be used as a monomer in the formation of an addition polymer that contains chlorine atoms
- January 2008, CHM4 (2008 spec), Q5(b) (2 marks): (b) Polymer R is formed from an alkene monomer. (i) Name the type of polymerisation involved in the formation of polymer R. (ii) Name the alkene monomer. (2 mar
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