7.3 Synthetic and naturally occuring polymers

• What process is used to make polymers from alkenes?


  Addition polymerisation
• What are the products of addition polymerisation?


  Very large molecules called polymers
• What is a repeat unit in a polymer?


  It has the same atoms as the monomer
• What type of monomers are involved in condensation polymerisation?


  Monomers with two functional groups
• What happens during condensation polymerisation?


  Monomers join, losing small molecules like water
• What are the simplest polymers produced from in condensation polymerisation?


  Two different monomers with same functional groups
• What functional groups do amino acids contain?


  An amine group and a carboxylic acid group
• What do amino acids produce when they react?


  Polypeptides through condensation polymerisation
• How can different amino acids be combined?


  In the same chain to produce proteins
• What does DNA stand for?


  Deoxyribonucleic acid
• What is the role of DNA in living organisms?


  It encodes genetic instructions for life
• How many polymer chains does DNA consist of?


  Two polymer chains
• What are the monomers that make up DNA?


  Nucleotides
• What structure does DNA form?


  A double helix
• What is the monomer for proteins?


  Amino acid
• What is the monomer for starch and cellulose?


  Glucose