Anecdotes for Chemistry Teachers: The Discovery of Teflon

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The background to the discovery, naming and uses of Teflon.

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Anecdotes: The discovery of teflon
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Specification

Wales
- GCSE
  - WJEC Chemistry
    - Unit 2: CHEMICAL BONDING, APPLICATION OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
      - 2.5 CRUDE OIL, FUELS AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
        (p) the addition polymerisation of ethene and other monomers to produce polythene, poly(propene), poly(vinylchloride) and poly(tetrafluoroethene)
        (q) the general properties of plastics and the uses of polythene, poly(propene), poly(vinylchloride) and poly(tetrafluoroethene)
  - WJEC Combined science
    - Unit 5: Chemistry 2
      - 5.5 CRUDE OIL, FUELS AND CARBON COMPOUNDS
        (o) the addition polymerisation of ethene and other monomers to produce polythene, poly(propene), poly(vinylchloride) and poly(tetrafluoroethene)
        (p) the general properties of plastics and the uses of polythene, poly(propene), poly(vinylchloride) and poly(tetrafluoroethene)
Northern Ireland
- A/AS level
  - CCEA Chemistry
    - Unit AS 2: Further Physical and inorganic Chemistry and an Introdution to Organic Chemistry
      - 2.4 Alkenes
        2.4.10 describe the addition polymerisation of alkenes, for example ethene and propene.
- GCSE
  - CCEA Chemistry
    - Unit 2: Further Chemical Reactions, Rates and Equilibrium, Calculations and Organic Chemistry
      - 2.5 Organic chemistry
        2.5.19 deduce the structure of an addition polymer from a simple alkene monomer and vice versa.
  - CCEA Double award science
    - Unit C2: Further Chemical Reactions, Rates and Equilibrium, Calculations and Organic Chemistry
      - 2.5 Organic chemistry
        2.5.19 deduce the structure of an addition polymer from a simple alkene monomer and vice versa.
Republic of Ireland
- Leaving Certificate
  - Chemistry
    - Option 2A: Materials
      - 2A.2 Addition Polymers
        Depth of treatment
        Addition polymers. Monomers.
        Polymerisation of alkenes: poly(ethene) (low density and high density), poly(chloroethene), poly(phenylethene), poly(tetrafluoroethene), poly(propene).
        Social and Applied Aspects
        The industrial and domestic importance and advantages of these polymers in plastics and fibres (two examples of uses of each polymer).
        Brief history of the discovery of poly(tetrafluoroethene).

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Anecdotes for Chemistry Teachers: The Discovery of Teflon

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Anecdotes: The discovery of teflon

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