Exam Focus

🎯 Exam Focus

Frequently Examined

Polymer questions appear regularly on chemistry papers. Key question patterns:

• Identify the monomer from a given polymer structure — look at the repeat unit (1-2 marks)
• Draw the polymer from a given monomer — replace C=C with C-C, add brackets and n (2 marks)
• Explain low melting point of a polymer — weak intermolecular forces between chains (2 marks)
• Name the type of polymerisation from a monomer with C=C double bond (1 mark)
• Explain why polymers don't conduct — no free electrons or ions (2 marks)

Edexcel 1CH0: Examined in Paper 1 (1CH0/1). Edexcel tests addition polymerisation by asking students to identify monomers from repeat units and draw polymer structures from monomers with C=C double bonds. Explaining low melting points (weak intermolecular forces between chains) and non-conductivity (no free electrons or ions) are standard 2-mark questions. In Edexcel-style questions, the command word "Suggest" appears frequently — use your chemistry knowledge to apply to an unfamiliar context.