plumiSynthetic polymers: Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry questions
Every Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry exam question on Synthetic polymers (specification points 4.44–4.50), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
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Exam
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Calculations
Q9(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q9(a)(iv)
The whole paper ↗Q10(c)
The whole paper ↗Q7(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q8(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q8(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q5(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q5(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q5(c)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q5(d)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q10(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q10(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q6(a)
The whole paper ↗Q6(b)
The whole paper ↗Q6(c)
The whole paper ↗Q6(d)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
All 47 questions on Synthetic polymers, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q9(a)(iii) (1 mark): Chloroethene is a monomer. Draw the displayed formula of the repeat unit of poly(chloroethene). (1)
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q9(a)(iv) (4 marks): Poly(chloroethene) is non‑biodegradable. There are two main methods used to dispose of poly(chloroethene). Describe one problem caused by each method. (4) 1 2
- November 2024, Paper 1, Q10(c) (3 marks): The reaction used to make poly(ethene) can be represented by this equation. ( H H H H n C C C C H H H H n Describe the differences between the reactant and the
- November 2024, Paper 2, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Dicarboxylic acid C and diol D react to form a polyester. Draw the displayed formula of the repeat unit of this polyester. (2)
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q8(c)(i) (1 mark): Draw the repeat unit of poly(propene). (1)
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q8(c)(ii) (2 marks): These are two methods for disposing of polymers such as poly(propene). method 1 burying them in landfill sites method 2 burning them to release heat energy Stat
- November 2023, Paper 1, Q3(c)(iii) (1 mark): Give one important use for short‑chain alkenes. (1)
- November 2023, Paper 2, Q5(c)(i) (1 mark): Give the name for this type of polymerisation. (1)
- November 2023, Paper 2, Q5(c)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of the other product of this reaction. (1)
- November 2023, Paper 2, Q5(c)(iii) (2 marks): Draw the displayed formula for the repeat unit of the polyester that forms. (2)
- November 2023, Paper 2, Q5(d) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term biopolyester. (1)
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Propene can be polymerised to form poly(propene). Draw the displayed formula of propene and the repeat unit of poly(propene). (2) propene repeat unit of poly(pr
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q10(c)(i) (2 marks): Complete the equation for the formation of poly(propene). (2) H CH3 → n C C H H
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q10(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the disposal of poly(propene) in landfill sites is a problem. (2)
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q6(a) (1 mark): This is the structure of a monomer. H Cl C C H H What is the name of this monomer? (1) A chloroethane B chloroethene C chloropropane D chloropropene
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q6(b) (1 mark): Complete the equation to show the repeat unit of the polymer that forms from this monomer. (1) H Cl n C C H H n
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q6(c) (2 marks): A typical molecule of the polymer has a relative molecular mass (Mr) of 2 490 000 Show that the number of monomer molecules needed to make this typical molecule
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q6(d) (4 marks): These are two methods used to dispose of the polymer. • burying in landfill sites • burning Discuss the environmental problems caused by these two methods of di
- January 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain the name given to the type of polymerisation that occurs in these reactions. (2)
- January 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Complete the equation for the polymerisation reaction by giving the displayed formula of the repeat unit of the polymer. (2) H H H n H O C C
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q5(d)(i) (1 mark): Give the name of this type of polymerisation. (1)
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q5(d)(ii) (2 marks): Draw the structural formulae of the two monomers used to make this polyester. (2)
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q7(d)(i) (2 marks): Complete the equation for the polymerisation of chloroethene in process 4. (2) H H n C C H Cl
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q7(d)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the disposal of polymers such as poly(chloroethene) is difficult. (2)
- January 2022, Paper 1, Q8(d)(i) (2 marks): Complete the equation to show part of the polymer formed from two molecules of compound E. (2) H H H 2 C C C H C C C C H H
- January 2022, Paper 1, Q8(d)(ii) (1 mark): Give one problem caused by the disposal of addition polymers. (1)
- January 2022, Paper 2, Q7(e) (2 marks): The structures of two organic compounds are shown. H H H O O C C C H O C C O H H O O H H H H These compounds react together to form a polymer. Give the repeat u
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q6(a)(iv) (1 mark): Give the letter of the compound that forms an addition polymer with this repeat unit. (1) CH3 CH3 C C H H
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q6(e)(i) (1 mark): State one difference between condensation polymerisation and addition polymerisation. (1)
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q6(e)(ii) (2 marks): The repeat unit of a polyester is O O H H C C O C C O H H Give the displayed formula of each of the two monomers needed to form this polyester. (2)
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q6(e)(iii) (1 mark): Give one advantage of biopolyesters. (1)
- June 2021, Paper 1, Q5(c)(i) (2 marks): Complete the equation for this polymerisation reaction. (2) H CH3 C → n C H H
- June 2021, Paper 1, Q5(c)(ii) (3 marks): Two ways of disposing of polymers such as poly(propene) are burying them in landfill sites burning them to release heat energy Discuss the environmental pro
- January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q8(b)(ii) (1 mark): Name the type of polymerisation that occurs in the formation of the polymer. (1)
- January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q8(b)(iii) (2 marks): Complete the equation for the polymerisation reaction. (2) H CH3 n C C H COOCH3
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q6(c)(i) (1 mark): State the type of polymer formed from compound C. (1)
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q6(c)(ii) (1 mark): Name the polymer formed from compound C. (1)
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q6(c)(iii) (2 marks): Draw the structure of this polymer. Include the displayed formula of the repeat unit. (2)
- January 2020, Paper 1, Q5(a)(iii) (1 mark): Give the letter of the compound that is used to manufacture poly(propene). (1)
- January 2020, Paper 2, Q6(d)(i) (1 mark): Give the name of this type of polymerisation. (1)
- January 2020, Paper 2, Q6(d)(ii) (3 marks): Complete the equation. Show only one repeat unit of the polyester. (3) O O HO C CH2CH2 C OH + + HO CH2CH2 OH
- January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q9(b)(i) (1 mark): State the type of polymerisation used to form poly(ethene). (1)
- January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q9(b)(ii) (2 marks): Complete the equation for the polymerisation of ethene. (2) H H C C n C C H H
- January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q9(b)(iii) (5 marks): Poly(ethene) is used to make plastic bags. Corn starch from plants can also be used to make polymers for plastic bags. The table gives some information about po
- January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q9(c) (1 mark): The diagram shows the repeat unit of another polymer. H H C H H C C H H Draw the displayed formula of the monomer used to make this polymer. (1)
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q8(d) (1 mark): Name the polymer formed from chloroethene. (1)
- June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q6(c)(i) (3 marks): Draw the displayed formula of • chloroethene • the repeat unit of poly(chloroethene) (3) chloroethene repeat unit of poly(chloroethene)
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