11.7

Polymers

Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620)  · Unit 11: Organic chemistry  · 6 flashcards

Polymers is topic 11.7 in the Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620) syllabus , positioned in Unit 11 — Organic chemistry , alongside Formulae, functional groups and nomenclature, Alkanes and Alkenes.  In one line: Polymers are formed through a condensation reaction, where monomers join together and a small molecule, such as water, is eliminated.

This topic is examined in Paper 1 (multiple-choice) and Papers 3/4 (theory), plus Paper 5 or Paper 6 (practical / alternative to practical).

The deck below contains 6 flashcards — 1 definition, 2 key concepts and 3 identification cards — covering the precise wording mark schemes reward.  Use the definition card to lock down command-word answers (define, state), then move on to the concept and application cards to handle explain, describe and compare questions.

Key definition

What type of reaction forms a polymer

Polymers are formed through a condensation reaction, where monomers join together and a small molecule, such as water, is eliminated.

What the Cambridge 0620 syllabus says

2026-2028 syllabus, in our words

What the syllabus expects you to be able to do in this topic, in plain English. Match the command word (Describe, Explain, State, etc.) in your answer to score full marks. For the exact wording, see the official syllabus (PDF).

  1. Define Define a polymer as a large molecule made by joining together many small molecules known as monomers.
  2. Describe Describe how ethene monomers join by addition polymerisation to make poly(ethene).
  3. State State that polymers are what plastics are made from.
  4. Describe Describe the ways in which plastics' properties affect their disposal.
  5. Describe Describe the environmental problems that plastics cause, only these: disposal in landfill, build-up in the oceans, and toxic gases formed when they are burned.
  6. Identify Identify, in both condensation and addition polymers, the linkages and/or the repeat units. Supplement
  7. Deduce Deduce the repeat unit or structure of the addition polymer formed from a given alkene, and deduce the alkene from a given addition polymer. Supplement
  8. Deduce Deduce the repeat unit or structure of a condensation polymer from given monomers, and the monomers from a given polymer, only for: polyamides made from a diamine and a dicarboxylic acid; and polyesters made from a diol and a dicarboxylic acid. Supplement
  9. Describe Describe how addition polymerisation and condensation polymerisation differ. Supplement
  10. Describe Describe and draw the structures of nylon, a polyamide (units from a dicarboxylic acid and a diamine joined by amide links, -CONH-), and PET, a polyester (units from a dicarboxylic acid and a diol joined by ester links, -COO-), drawn in block form, with each monomer's carbon chain shown as a box between the linking groups. You do not need to know PET's full name, polyethylene terephthalate. Supplement
  11. State State that PET may be broken down into its monomers, which can then be polymerised again. Supplement
  12. Describe Describe proteins as natural polyamides built from amino acid monomers, whose general structure is H₂N-CHR-COOH, where R stands for a side-chain that differs from one amino acid to another. Supplement
  13. Describe Describe and draw the structure of a protein as amino acid units joined by amide links, -CONH-, drawn in block form, with each amino acid's carbon part shown as a box between -NH- and -CO- groups. Supplement
Definition Flip

What type of reaction forms a polymer?

Answer Flip

Polymers are formed through a condensation reaction, where monomers join together and a small molecule, such as water, is eliminated.

Key Concept Flip

What is the general name for polymers formed from a reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol?

Answer Flip

Polyester. These polymers are formed through ester linkages between the carboxylic acid and alcohol monomers, with the elimination of water.

Key Concept Flip

What type of light is typically used to initiate polymerization reactions (like cracking)?

Answer Flip

Ultraviolet (UV) light, sunlight, or bright light can be used to initiate polymerization. This provides the energy to break bonds and start the chain reaction.

Key Concept Flip

Identify the type of bond between carbon atoms within the repeat unit of a saturated addition polymer.

Answer Flip

A single covalent bond exists between the carbon atoms in the saturated polymer's repeat unit. Each carbon atom also forms single bonds to other atoms or groups, typically hydrogen.

Example: in poly(ethene), -[CH₂-CH₂]-, the carbon atoms are linked by single bonds and each carbon is bonded to two hydrogen atoms.
Key Concept Flip

What are the monomers that combine to form PET (polyethylene terephthalate)?

Answer Flip

PET is formed from ethan-1,2-diol (HO-CH₂-CH₂-OH) and propan-1,3-dioic acid (HOOC-CH₂-COOH) via condensation polymerization.

Key Concept Flip

When drawing the repeating unit of a polymer, what is the first key step to show?

Answer Flip

The first key step is to correctly identify and draw the monomer unit, showing the carbon-carbon double bond opening to form single bonds. Draw the repeating unit in brackets with continuation bonds extending through the brackets on each side. This shows that the unit repeats to form the long polymer chain.

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11.6 Esters 12.1 Experimental design

Key Questions: Polymers

What type of reaction forms a polymer?

Polymers are formed through a condensation reaction, where monomers join together and a small molecule, such as water, is eliminated.

Tips to avoid common mistakes in Polymers

More topics in Unit 11 — Organic chemistry

Polymers sits alongside these Chemistry decks in the same syllabus unit. Each uses the same spaced-repetition system, so progress in one informs the next.

11.1 Formulae, functional groups and nomenclature

12 flashcards
11.2 Alkanes

13 flashcards
11.3 Alkenes

12 flashcards
11.4 Alcohols

11 flashcards
11.5 Carboxylic acids

12 flashcards
11.6 Esters

8 flashcards

Cambridge syllabus keywords to use in your answers

These are the official Cambridge 0620 terms tagged to this section. Mark schemes credit responses that use the exact term — weave them into your answers verbatim rather than paraphrasing.

polymer monomer addition polymer condensation polymer polymerisation plastic poly(ethene) poly(propene) PVC nylon polyester biodegradable non-biodegradable recycling

Key terms covered in this Polymers deck

Every term below is defined in the flashcards above. Use the list as a quick recall test before your exam — if you can't define one of these in your own words, flip back to that card.

What type of reaction forms a polymer

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How to study this Polymers deck

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