Student contest

One of our winning entries....

Polymers Are Long Chains

Michelle Wyszomirski and Valentina Dehghan
Evanston Township High School, Evanston, IL

We are Sophomores at ETHS and are working our way through chemphys. We wrote this song so people an understand the basic concept of the important polymers around them.

Polmers Are Long Chains
(tune: "A Whole New World" by Walt Disney)

Sung by ERIC
Polymers are long chains
Of the same simple units repeating
Very large molecules formed from small
Ones called monomers

Addition polymerization
Double bonded compounds Add on end to end
Forming cross linked chains of large size

Polymers are long chains
A reaction combining two compounds
One loses a hydrogen atom
The other a hydroxyl group Combine to form H2O

MICHELLE
Polymers are long chains
Makes up many things we use
Such as plastics, spandex
Rubber and wax
They are useful in everyday life

ERIC
They are useful in everyday life

TINA
Dealing with viscosity

MICHELLE
Liquids made of long molecules

TINA
Are more viscous, not allowing

MICHELLE
For the molecules to slide by

TINA
Polymers are long chains
(ERIC- Long polymer chains are crosslinked)
Many entanglements make it hard to break
(ERIC- With holes for water absorption)
Therefore it is stretchy
The molecular mass determines
How strong the polymer is going to be

ERIC
Polymers are long chains
(MICHELLE-A polymer won't scratch)
Either natural or synthetic
(TINA- If it's got a high molecular mass)

ALL
They make so many things
Improve our lives
A substancial part of clothing, cars, and homes

Polymers are long chains
Same units repeat

ERIC
A macromolecule

MICHELLE
A grand discovery

ALL
Used by you and me

Bibliography
Walt Disney Aladdin Soundtrack
Worksheets from Expanding on the concepts
Hart, Harold. Organic Chemistry. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1991
Smoot. Chemistry. New York: McGraw Hill, 1998