Polymers structure, properties and investigation lesson

Lesson power point, worksheet and teacher notes to show the properties of polymers and to relate these to the structure of their polymer chains. Useful for high ability KS3 or medium ability KS4 chemistry. Links rigidity, strength and melting points to the idea of length of polymer and cross links. Spaghetti demo showing effects of chain length and cross links for cooked then dried samples. Uses polymorph a low mpt plastic that can be melted in hot water and hand moulded. then investigates effects of a load on strips of plastic bags to show stretching as the chains slip over each other, longer chains = more strength. Blooms taxonomy and new NC Levels.