plumiBiodegradability and disposal of polymers: AQA A‑Level Chemistry questions
AQA A-Level Chemistry past-paper questions on 3.3.12.2 Biodegradability and disposal of polymers, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q03.2
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All 17 questions on Biodegradability and disposal of polymers, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q03.2 (1 mark): State why PVC is not biodegradable. [1 mark]
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q31 (1 mark): Which type of polymer is most difficult to hydrolyse? [1 mark] A polyalkene B polyamide C polyester D protein
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q28 (1 mark): Which polymer is not hydrolysed when heated with aqueous alkali? [1 mark] A Kevlar B Nylon 6,6 C Poly(propene) D Terylene
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q01.2 (2 marks): Explain why polyesters are biodegradable but polyalkenes are not biodegradable. [2 marks]
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q34 (1 mark): Which type of polymer is not hydrolysed by heating with concentrated aqueous sodium hydroxide? [1 mark] A poly(alkene) B poly(amide) C poly(ester) D protein
- 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 2017, Paper 2, Q10.7 (3 marks): Isomer U is shown. The polymer formed by U and the polymer formed by 5-hydroxyhexanoic acid in Question 10.6 both contain ester groups that can be hydrolysed. D
- Specimen, Paper 2, Q07.3 (3 marks): Advantage Justification 8
- June 2016, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(e)(ii) (2 marks): Suggest an advantage of surgical sutures made from PGA rather than from poly(propene). Explain your answer. [2 marks]
- June 2015, CHEM4 (old spec), Q7(b)(iv) (1 mark): Explain why polymer L is non-biodegradable. [1 mark]
- June 2013, CHEM4 (old spec), Q5(d)(v) (1 mark): The manufacturers of PLA claim that the material will break down to compost in just 12 weeks. Suggest one reason why PLA in landfill may take longer than 12 wee
- 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
- June 2012, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(b)(iii) (3 marks): A shirt was made from this polyester. A student wearing the shirt accidentally splashed aqueous sodium hydroxide on a sleeve. Holes later appeared in the sleeve
- June 2011, CHEM4 (old spec), Q5(e)(i) (1 mark): Hydrolysis of DEP in an excess of water was found to follow first order kinetics. Write a rate equation for this hydrolysis reaction using DEP to represent the
- June 2010, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(c) (1 mark): Suggest one operating condition in an incinerator that would minimise the formation of dioxins. (1 mark) 13
- June 2010, CHEM4 (old spec), Q7(e) (4 marks): Draw the repeating unit of the polyester Terylene that is made from benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and ethane-1,2-diol. Although Terylene is biodegradeable, it i
- January 2010, CHEM4 (old spec), Q8(c)(iii) (4 marks): Kevlar can be used as the inner lining of bicycle tyres. The rubber used for the outer part of the tyre is made of polymerised alkenes. State the difference in
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