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Polymers: Edexcel GCSE Chemistry questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Chemistry exam question on Polymers (specification points 9.17–9.25), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,880 questions

  1. Q4(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 4(a)(ii): Describe how monomer molecules combine to make polymers. (2)

  2. Q10(b)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 10(b): Ethanol can be oxidised to make ethanoic acid. One use of ethanoic acid is to make a monomer. This monomer is polymerised to make the addition polymer PVA, used

  3. Q10(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 10(a)(ii): Describe how monomer molecules combine to make polymers. (2)

  4. Q10(b)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 10(b)(i): Draw the structure of one phenylethene monomer molecule. (2)

  5. Q10(c)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 10(c): Poly(phenylethene) is an addition polymer. Polyesters are condensation polymers. Describe the differences between the type of monomer molecules used to form add

  6. Q7(a)(iii)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 7(a)(iii): 1 molecule of compound L has a mass of 9.302 × 10–23 g. 82,500 molecules of compound L combine to form 1 polymer molecule. Calculate the mass of this polymer mo

  7. Q7(b)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 7(b): Some naturally occurring molecules are polymers. Draw one straight line from each natural polymer to its monomer. (2) natural polymer monomer amino acids DNA nu

  8. Q4(c)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Higher, question 4(c)(i): Tetrafluoroethene can form the polymer poly(tetrafluoroethene). Draw a diagram to show the structure of the repeating unit of this polymer. (2)

  9. Q4(c)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Higher, question 4(c)(ii): Poly(tetrafluoroethene) is also known as TeflonTM. State one use of poly(tetrafluoroethene) and explain how one of its properties makes it suitable for that use

  10. Q10(c)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 10(c)(i): Tetrafluoroethene can form the polymer poly(tetrafluoroethene). Draw a diagram to show the structure of the repeating unit of this polymer. (2)

  11. Q10(c)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    3 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 10(c)(ii): Poly(tetrafluoroethene) is also known as TeflonTM. State one use of poly(tetrafluoroethene) and explain how one of its properties makes it suitable for that use

  12. Q10(a)(iii)

    June 2022 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2 Higher, question 10(a)(iii): Draw the repeating unit of the addition polymer formed when hydrocarbon Z undergoes polymerisation. (2)

  13. Q7(c)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2 Foundation, question 7(c)(i): What type of substance is Y? (1) A a composite B a nanoparticle C a polymer D a protein

  14. Q7(c)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2 Foundation, question 7(c)(ii): One molecule of the compound in Figure 10 has a mass of 6.98 × 10–23 g. 64 800 of these molecules combine to form one molecule of Y. Calculate the mass of this

  15. Q4(a)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 markPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Higher, question 4(a)(i): State a problem with recycling polymers. (1)

  16. Q4(a)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Higher, question 4(a)(ii): Describe a problem associated with the disposal of polymers. (2)

  17. Q4(b)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Higher, question 4(b)(ii): Draw a section of a poly(chloroethene) molecule containing three repeating units, showing all bonds. (3)

  18. Q4(b)(iii)

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 markPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Higher, question 4(b)(iii): What type of polymer is poly(chloroethene)? (1)

  19. Q10(a)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Foundation, question 10(a)(i): State a problem with recycling polymers. (1)

  20. Q10(a)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksPolymers
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Foundation, question 10(a)(ii): Describe a problem associated with the disposal of polymers. (2)
All 46 questions on Polymers, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe how monomer molecules combine to make polymers. (2)
  2. June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q10(b) (2 marks): Ethanol can be oxidised to make ethanoic acid. One use of ethanoic acid is to make a monomer. This monomer is polymerised to make the addition polymer PVA, used
  3. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe how monomer molecules combine to make polymers. (2)
  4. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q10(b)(i) (2 marks): Draw the structure of one phenylethene monomer molecule. (2)
  5. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q10(c) (3 marks): Poly(phenylethene) is an addition polymer. Polyesters are condensation polymers. Describe the differences between the type of monomer molecules used to form add
  6. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(a)(iii) (2 marks): 1 molecule of compound L has a mass of 9.302 × 10–23 g. 82,500 molecules of compound L combine to form 1 polymer molecule. Calculate the mass of this polymer mo
  7. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(b) (2 marks): Some naturally occurring molecules are polymers. Draw one straight line from each natural polymer to its monomer. (2) natural polymer monomer amino acids DNA nu
  8. June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): Tetrafluoroethene can form the polymer poly(tetrafluoroethene). Draw a diagram to show the structure of the repeating unit of this polymer. (2)
  9. June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(c)(ii) (3 marks): Poly(tetrafluoroethene) is also known as TeflonTM. State one use of poly(tetrafluoroethene) and explain how one of its properties makes it suitable for that use
  10. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(c)(i) (2 marks): Tetrafluoroethene can form the polymer poly(tetrafluoroethene). Draw a diagram to show the structure of the repeating unit of this polymer. (2)
  11. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(c)(ii) (3 marks): Poly(tetrafluoroethene) is also known as TeflonTM. State one use of poly(tetrafluoroethene) and explain how one of its properties makes it suitable for that use
  12. June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q10(a)(iii) (2 marks): Draw the repeating unit of the addition polymer formed when hydrocarbon Z undergoes polymerisation. (2)
  13. June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(c)(i) (1 mark): What type of substance is Y? (1) A a composite B a nanoparticle C a polymer D a protein
  14. June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): One molecule of the compound in Figure 10 has a mass of 6.98 × 10–23 g. 64 800 of these molecules combine to form one molecule of Y. Calculate the mass of this
  15. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): State a problem with recycling polymers. (1)
  16. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe a problem associated with the disposal of polymers. (2)
  17. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): Draw a section of a poly(chloroethene) molecule containing three repeating units, showing all bonds. (3)
  18. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(b)(iii) (1 mark): What type of polymer is poly(chloroethene)? (1)
  19. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(a)(i) (1 mark): State a problem with recycling polymers. (1)
  20. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe a problem associated with the disposal of polymers. (2)
  21. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(b)(i) (1 mark): On Figure 20, draw a circle around the functional group in this molecule. (1)
  22. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(b)(ii) (3 marks): Draw a section of a poly(chloroethene) molecule containing three repeating units, showing all bonds. (3)
  23. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(b)(iii) (1 mark): What type of polymer is poly(chloroethene)? (1)
  24. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(b)(iv) (3 marks): Calculate the relative formula mass of a poly(chloroethene) molecule made from 2850 chloroethene molecules, C2H3Cl. (relative atomic masses: H = 1.00, C = 12.0,
  25. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe how dichloroethene monomers form a polymer. (2)
  26. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these represents the structure of the polymer formed from the monomer in Figure 2? (1)  H Cl  A C C  Cl H n  Cl H  B C C  Cl H n  Cl H  C C C 
  27. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(c) (2 marks): Poly(dichloroethene) was used to wrap food to keep it fresh. Explain one property that a plastic food wrapping must have. (2)
  28. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): When monomer A and monomer B react together they polymerise to form a polymer and one other product. Name the type of polymerisation that takes place and name t
  29. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q5(a)(iii) (1 mark): A naturally occurring polymer is made by combining monomers called nucleotides. Give the name of this natural polymer. (1)
  30. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(d) (6 marks): Polymers have many uses. However, the disposal of polymers after use can be a problem. The uses of polymers are related to their properties. Some uses of three
  31. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe how dichloroethene monomers form a polymer. (2)
  32. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these represents the structure of the polymer formed from the monomer in Figure 16? (1)  H Cl  A C C  Cl H n  Cl H  B C C  Cl H n  Cl H  C C C
  33. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(c) (2 marks): Poly(dichloroethene) was used to wrap food to keep it fresh. Explain one property that a plastic food wrapping must have. (2)
  34. June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a) (3 marks): Figure 5 shows the names and structures of some polymers and the monomers used to make them. Complete the table using the information given. (3) structure of st
  35. June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(b) (2 marks): Plastics are polymers. State two problems caused by the disposal of polymers. (2) 1 2
  36. June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(c) (1 mark): A molecule of propene has the structure shown in Figure 6. H CH3 C C H H Figure 6 Which of the following shows the structure of part of a poly(propene) molecule
  37. June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(d) (2 marks): Calculate the relative formula mass of the poly(propene) molecule made from joining together 24 600 molecules of propene, C3H6. (relative formula mass: C3H6 = 4
  38. June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q5(b) (2 marks): Poly(propene) is an example of a polymer. The structure of a poly(propene) molecule is shown in Figure 5. H CH3 ⎡ ⎢ C C ⎣ H H n Figure 5 This polymer is made fr
  39. June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q5(d) (1 mark): Some polymers are polyesters. What type of reaction takes place when polyesters are formed? (1) A addition B condensation C neutralisation D precipitation
  40. June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q5(e)(i) (2 marks): This polymer is made from two different monomers. Draw a molecule of each monomer showing all covalent bonds. (2)
  41. June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q5(e)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name or formula of the small molecule formed when the monomer molecules react to form an ester link. (1)
  42. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(c)(i) (2 marks): The structure of a molecule of a polymer is shown in Figure 12. F H C C F H n Figure 12 Complete the structure of a molecule of the monomer used to make this po
  43. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(c)(ii) (6 marks): Poly(ethene) has many uses in everyday life. Large amounts of poly(ethene) are manufactured from ethene produced by cracking fractions obtained from crude oil.
  44. Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(b) (6 marks): Polymers are addition or condensation polymers. Polymers can be formed by using the monomers shown in Figure 12. monomer structure H Cl chloroethene C C H H H H
  45. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(g) (1 mark): Alkenes are used to make polymers. Figure 15 shows the repeating unit of a polymer.  H H  C C  H Cl n Figure 15 Draw the structure of a molecule of the monom
  46. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(h) (1 mark): Bottles can be made of polymers, such as poly(ethene), and of glass. Give one advantage of a bottle made of a polymer rather than a bottle made of glass. (1)

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