Polymers: Addition, Condensation and Biodegradability — Interactive Lesson (Ages 16–18)

Why does a polythene bag last for centuries while a polyester shirt can be broken down? This 23-slide interactive lesson on condensation polymers takes pupils from first ideas to exam-style explanations, with 14 self-marking activities and nothing to prepare beforehand.

Teaching Polymers: Addition, Condensation and Biodegradability in A-level Chemistry

Students compare addition and condensation polymerisation, identify the monomers and linkages in polyesters such as Terylene and polyamides such as nylon-6,6 and Kevlar, and explain how hydrogen bonding between chains affects strength. They explain why polyesters and polyamides can be hydrolysed while poly(alkenes) are inert, and evaluate landfill, incineration and recycling.

What Pupils Will Learn

• Compare addition and condensation polymerisation.
• Identify the monomers and repeating units of polyesters and polyamides.
• Explain the properties of polymers in terms of intermolecular forces.
• Explain why polyesters and polyamides are biodegradable but poly(alkenes) are not.
• Evaluate methods of disposing of polymers.

What’s Included

• 23-slide interactive lesson on condensation polymers
• 14 self-marking activities: multiple-choice questions, true-or-false checks, sorting tasks, drag-and-drop categorising and fill-in-the-gap questions
• Step-by-step teaching cards that reveal one point at a time
• A written explanation task with a model answer for self-assessment

Why Teachers Love It

• No prep — open it on an interactive whiteboard, laptop or tablet
• Instant feedback explains every answer, right or wrong
• Everyday examples make chemistry feel real
• Works for whole-class teaching, independent study or revision

Curriculum Alignment

Supports the organic chemistry content of UK A-level Chemistry (AQA section 3.3, with equivalent OCR and Edexcel content) and prepares Nigerian students for post-SSCE study, JAMB and first-year university chemistry.

Love this? You’ll love…

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FAQ

What year groups is this for? Year 13 (ages 16–18), and post-SSCE students in Nigeria.

Is it self-marking? Yes — all 14 activities give instant feedback.

Do pupils need to log in? No. The lesson runs in any modern web browser.

Can I use it for revision? Yes. Pupils can replay it as often as they like, and the results screen shows which questions to review before a test.