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Monomer Units (1 Viewer)

Eddy Q

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Ok, I got a question similar to this in an exam:

Draw the structural formula for a part of a polyethylene molecule showing three monomer units joined together.

Now I drew it like this(Sorry for shitty drawing, did it in paint haha):


My teacher said you had to draw like this(Again, sorry for shitty drawing):


Which one is correct? Or are they both correct?
 

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study-freak

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2nd one is correct because of the wording of the question
"Draw the structural formula for a part of a polyethylene molecule showing three monomer units joined together."
 
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fairly sure the second one is correct , remember when you polymerise ethene together the double bond opens,and thats where you get the two free electrons on the edges
 

aimhigh10

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what about the brackets showing it is continuous though?
 
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for a part of a polyethylene molecule
In this case, your teacher is correct. However, if the question said, "draw the structural formula for a part of a polyethylene molecule showing [with] three monomer units joined together", then you would be correct.
 

Eddy Q

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what about the brackets showing it is continuous though?
Draw the structural formula for a part of a polyethylene molecule showing three monomer units joined together.

No need for bracket since n=3
 

study-freak

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what about the brackets showing it is continuous though?
i would put it, but i don't think it's really needed because we are only interested in a small part of the molecule
unlike (-monomer unit-)n structure
 

aimhigh10

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Draw the structural formula for a part of a polyethylene molecule showing three monomer units joined together.

No need for bracket since n=3

i wonder how much more hsc stuff ive forgotten :eek:
 

study-freak

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n=/=3. n>_3
but we are meant to show only 3 monomer units in our drawing
 

Eddy Q

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In this case, your teacher is correct. However, if the question said, "draw the structural formula for a part of a polyethylene molecule showing [with] three monomer units joined together", then you would be correct.
Alright i found my exam and for thiss question i actually had to model(Since this exam was a practical exam):

Using the moly-mod kits provided construct the following compounds:

Ethen

The monomer for the polymer PVC and then 2 units of the polymer of PVC


Now the same scenario applies, I modelled the PVC like the 1st picture but the teacher said I had to model it like the 2nd.
 

study-freak

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Alright i found my exam and for thiss question i actually had to model(Since this exam was a practical exam):

Using the moly-mod kits provided construct the following compounds:

Ethen

The monomer for the polymer PVC and then 2 units of the polymer of PVC

Now the same scenario applies, I modelled the PVC like the 1st picture but the teacher said I had to model it like the 2nd.
The wording is not very precise but it said "polymer," which suggests long chain.
If there's only two monomer units in a molecule, they would have called it a dimer.
 

OmmU

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The fact that it is an alkene would also tell you that those extra H atoms are not required. CnH2n. Therefore C6H12
 

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