Polymers and Chemistry in Everyday Life Class 12: Quick Revision
Polymers and Chemistry in Everyday Life are two of the lighter chapters in Class 12 Chemistry. Both can be revised well in a few days.
This post shows parents in Dwarka and Gurugram what to focus on, where students lose marks, and how to plan a short daily routine.
Why these two chapters suit the last weeks
Most Class 12 chapters need long numerical practice. These two do not. They need clear memory and neat writing.
That is useful in the final weeks. A student can finish a first revision of both chapters quickly and then give the saved time to harder chapters such as those with many calculations.
The common pain points are these:
- Many similar names are learnt together, so students mix them up.
- Students read the chapter but never write the reactions or structures, so they forget them in the exam hall.
- The "uses" part is skipped because it looks easy, and marks are lost in short-answer questions.
- Students revise from old notes and spend time on a topic that is no longer in the syllabus.
Keep the latest NCERT textbook as the base. Check the current syllabus of your board before you start, so that no time goes to a removed topic.
Polymers: what to revise
A polymer is a very large molecule made by joining many small molecules called monomers. The joining process is called polymerisation.
Start with the classification. Ask four questions about any polymer:
- Source: natural, semi-synthetic or synthetic?
- Structure: linear, branched or cross-linked?
- Mode of polymerisation: addition or condensation?
- Molecular forces: elastomer, fibre, thermoplastic or thermosetting?
In addition polymerisation, monomers with double bonds join without losing any small molecule. In condensation polymerisation, monomers join and a small molecule such as water is lost.
Next, learn the polymers as pairs of monomer and polymer. Do not memorise them as a loose list. Write them in a table like the one below, and fill it from memory every few days.
| Polymer | Monomer(s) | Type | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polythene | Ethene | Addition | Bags, films, bottles |
| Polyvinyl chloride | Vinyl chloride | Addition | Pipes, wire insulation |
| Polytetrafluoroethene | Tetrafluoroethene | Addition | Non-stick coating |
| Polyamide fibre | Hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid | Condensation | Fibres, ropes |
| Polyester fibre | Ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid | Condensation | Fabrics, bottles |
| Phenol-formaldehyde polymer | Phenol and formaldehyde | Condensation | Switches, handles |
| Natural rubber | Isoprene | Addition | Tyres, rubber items |
Also revise vulcanisation. It means heating natural rubber with sulphur to make it harder and stronger. Add biodegradable polymers to your list, since they connect to environment questions.
Chemistry in everyday life: what to revise
This chapter deals with medicines, food chemicals and cleaning agents. Treat it as a set of classes. For each class, know the purpose and one or two examples from NCERT.
- Analgesics: relieve pain.
- Antipyretics: reduce fever.
- Antibiotics: act against bacteria.
- Antiseptics and disinfectants: kill or stop microbes. Antiseptics are used on living tissue; disinfectants on non-living things.
- Antacids: reduce excess stomach acid.
- Antihistamines: reduce allergic reactions.
- Tranquilisers: help in anxiety and stress.
Then cover the remaining parts: antimicrobials, artificial sweeteners, food preservatives, and soaps and detergents. For the last pair, know how they clean and how they differ.
| Point | Soap | Synthetic detergent |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Fats or oils with alkali | Chemical raw materials |
| Hard water | Forms scum | Works without forming scum |
| Biodegradability | Biodegradable | Depends on whether the chain is straight or branched |
A worked example: how to answer a short question
Question: Write the monomers of the polyamide fibre in the table and name the type of polymerisation.
Answer: The monomers are hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid. The polymerisation is condensation, because water is lost as the two monomers join. The product is a polyamide, used as a fibre.
Why this scores: It gives the names, the type, the reason and the use in three lines. Practise this pattern for every polymer in the table.
A simple routine for the final weeks
Do not read the chapter again and again. Use short sessions, and include writing in each one.
- Day 1: Read Polymers once from NCERT. Draw the classification chart on one page.
- Day 2: Fill the monomer-polymer table from memory. Check and correct it.
- Day 3: Read Chemistry in Everyday Life. Make a one-page chart of drug classes with examples.
- Day 4: Solve the in-text and end-of-chapter questions of both chapters in writing.
- Day 5 and after: Spend ten minutes each day re-filling the tables from memory. Mark what you missed and repeat only that.
Parents can help in a simple way. Ask your child to explain one polymer or one drug class aloud in two minutes. If the child can explain it clearly, the topic is ready.
Keep the sessions short and fixed in time, for example right after school homework. A short session done daily works better than one long session done rarely.
How a tutor helps with light chapters
Students often feel these chapters need no help. In practice, a second person checking their written answers catches mix-ups early, such as confusing antiseptics with disinfectants, or addition with condensation.
A tutor can set short recall tests, check the neatness of structures and tell the student which two or three topics to repeat. This is quicker in one-to-one home tuition, where the time goes only to your child's weak points.
Great Home Tutors offers one-to-one home tuition in Dwarka and Gurgaon. You tell us the class, subject, board and locality, and we match a home tutor. Tutors we have checked carry a Verified mark, and we tell you plainly if a tutor is not verified yet. A first class lets you see the fit before anything is fixed.
Key takeaways
- Both chapters are about classification, names and uses, so revise them with charts and tables.
- Learn each polymer as monomer, type of polymerisation and use.
- Learn each drug class with its purpose and one example.
- Write from memory every day for a few minutes; reading alone does not fix recall.
- Follow the current NCERT book and your board's latest syllabus.
Frequently asked questions
How much time do these two chapters need in the final weeks?
A first revision can be done in about five short sessions, as in the routine above. After that, a few minutes of daily recall is enough. Your child's own speed and starting level will decide the exact time.
What is the difference between addition and condensation polymers?
Addition polymers form when monomers with double bonds join with no loss of any molecule. Condensation polymers form when monomers join and lose a small molecule such as water.
Should my child learn structures or only names?
Learn both. Names alone are not enough when a question asks for the monomer or the repeating unit. Practise drawing the key structures from NCERT by hand.
Is home tuition useful for such light chapters?
It can be, mainly for checking written answers and setting recall tests. A tutor can also tell you if your child is ready to move on to the heavier chapters.
How do I find a Chemistry home tutor in Dwarka or Gurugram?
Share the class, subject, board and your locality with Great Home Tutors. A person calls you back to understand the student, and then we match a home tutor.
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