DP Chemistry (last assessment 2024)
Question 18M.3.sl.TZ2.b.i
| Date | May 2018 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 1] | Reference code | 18M.3.sl.TZ2.b.i |
| Level | sl | Paper | 3 | Time zone | TZ2 |
| Command term | State | Question number | b.i | Adapted from | N/A |
b.i.
[Maximum mark: 1]
18M.3.sl.TZ2.b.i
Propene can polymerize to form polypropene.
Propene monomer: 
State the chemical reason why plastics do not degrade easily.
[1]
Markscheme
strong covalent bonds
Accept “moisture cannot get inside the plastic matrix, and bacteria cannot live without moisture, so they cannot attack the polymer chains”.
Accept “bacteria lack the enzymes required to break down the hydrocarbon chains”.
[1 mark]
