Polymers

• Addition reactions occur when two molecules join together to form one larger molecule, forming a double bond between them.
• Polymers are large molecules made from a long chain of monomers
• Alkenes can be used to make an addition polymerisation by breaking the C=C bond
• DNA is a natural polymer
• What is formed when a carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol?


  An ester
• What is released when an ester is formed from a carboxylic acid and an alcohol?


  Water
• What type of acid is involved in forming polyesters?

  Dicarboxylic acid
• What are the monomers that make up polymers called?

  Monomers
• What is the structure of DNA described as?

  Double helix
• What are the building blocks of proteins?

  Amino acids
• What is the repeating unit in a polymer?

  Monomer
• How many water molecules are released when forming a polyester from n monomers?

  $2nH_2O$
• What are the types of acids involved in polymer formation?

  • Carboxylic acids
  • Dicarboxylic acids
• What are the key components of the structure of polyesters?

  • Formed from carboxylic acids and alcohols
  • Water is released during formation
  • Repeating units of monomers
• What are the types of polymers mentioned in the study material?

  • Polyesters
  • Proteins
  • Nucleic acids (DNA)
• What is the general formula for the structure of a polyester?

  • Repeating units of the form:
  • H-O-C-C-O-H
  • H-O-C-C-C-O-H
• The properties of a polymer depend on its structure
• DNA has four different monomers: A,C,G and T which are nucleotides
• DNA is made from 2 polymer chains in a double helix
• Adenine always pairs with thymine
• Each base pair is held together by hydrogen bonds
• Polypeptide chain is formed when amino acids join together to make proteins
• Enzymes speed up reactions without being used up themselves