Explain what the term polymerisation means.
What type of polymerisation is used in making hydrogels?
Describe the changes in chemical bonding that take place during the polymerisation of $K$.
Compound $K$ has the common name acrylic acid. Suggest the systematic (chemical) name of $K$.
Draw the structure of at least two repeat units of the polymer formed from acrylic acid, $K$, when it is mixed with NaOH.
The C-C-C bond angle in compound $K$ changes when the polymer is formed. State and explain how the C-C-C bond angle is different in a molecule of $K$ compared with the polymer.
Draw a detailed diagram of part of the polymer you drew in (c)(i) to show how it can take in a large volume of water.
A student added $0.10\,\text{g}$ of the polymer to $10\,\text{cm}^3$ of aqueous copper(II) sulfate solution. Predict, with a reason, what you would observe.
Compound L, $\text{CH}_2=\text{CHCONH}_2$, can also be polymerised to make a super-absorbent polymer. Name the two functional groups in compound L.
Compound K can be changed into compound L by the two-step route below. Suggest a reagent for step 1.
What additional product is formed in step 2?
State the reagents and conditions needed to re-form K from L.