3.3.12.2 Condensation Polymers

• What small molecule is eliminated during condensation polymerization?

  Water or alcohol
• Why is the molecular weight of a condensation polymer less than the sum of its monomers?

  Small molecules are eliminated
• Common examples of monomers for condensation polymers include dicarboxylic acids, diols, and diamines
• Steps in the condensation polymerization mechanism

  1️⃣ Nucleophilic attack

  2️⃣ Elimination of a small molecule

  3️⃣ Propagation
• Condensation polymerization produces small molecule by-products, while addition polymerization does not.


  True
• Condensation polymerization produces a small molecule as a by-product
• Condensation polymerization often requires high temperatures and a catalyst.


  True
• In condensation polymerization, the molecular weight decreases due to the elimination of a small molecule
• What is an example of a dicarboxylic acid used in condensation polymerization?

  Terephthalic acid
• Condensation polymerization eliminates a small molecule like water as a by-product.


  True
• What type of linkage is formed between monomers in a polyester chain?

  Ester linkage
• What type of polymers are polyesters?

  Condensation
• Match the characteristic with the correct polymerization type:

  Elimination of water ↔️ Condensation

  No by-products ↔️ Addition
• The molecular weight of polyesters increases during polymerization.

  False
• Match the feature with the correct polymer:

  Strong, durable, water-resistant ↔️ Polyamides

  Flexible, waterproof ↔️ Polyesters
• Condensation polymerization requires monomers with at least two reactive groups.
• Match the monomer type with its functional group:

  Dicarboxylic Acids ↔️ Carboxyl groups

  Diols ↔️ Hydroxyl groups

  Diamines ↔️ Amino groups
• Water is eliminated during the formation of an ester linkage in polyesters.


  True
• Steps in the general mechanism of condensation polymerization

  1️⃣ Nucleophilic attack

  2️⃣ Elimination of a small molecule

  3️⃣ Propagation
• What is the role of a catalyst in condensation polymerization?

  Speeds up the reaction
• Addition polymerization produces by-products.

  False
• What is the minimum number of reactive functional groups required for a monomer to form a condensation polymer?

  Two
• Monomers for addition polymerization typically have double bonds and eliminate by-products.

  False
• Condensation polymerization requires monomers with at least two reactive groups
• Steps in the condensation polymerization of a polyester from a dicarboxylic acid and a diol

  1️⃣ The alcohol group of the diol attacks the carbonyl group of the dicarboxylic acid.

  2️⃣ Water is eliminated, forming an ester linkage between the monomers.

  3️⃣ The resulting ester reacts with additional monomers to extend the polymer chain.
• Match the type of polymerization with a common example:

  Condensation Polymerization ↔️ Polyesters

  Addition Polymerization ↔️ Polyethylene
• What small molecule is eliminated during condensation polymerization to form a covalent bond?

  Water
• Match the monomer type with a specific example:

  Dicarboxylic Acids ↔️ Terephthalic acid

  Diols ↔️ Ethylene glycol

  Diamines ↔️ Hexamethylenediamine
• Monomers for addition polymerization typically have double bonds.

  True
• During the elimination step of condensation polymerization, water or another small molecule is removed.
• In polyester formation, the alcohol group of the diol attacks the carbonyl group of the dicarboxylic acid.
• Steps in the general mechanism for polyester formation

  1️⃣ Nucleophilic attack

  2️⃣ Elimination of water

  3️⃣ Propagation to extend chain
• Condensation polymerization does not produce any by-products.

  False
• Water is eliminated as a by-product during the formation of an ester linkage in polyesters.
• Polyamides are formed from dicarboxylic acids and diamines.
• What is a key characteristic of condensation polymerization?

  Elimination of a small molecule
• What are common examples of monomers that form condensation polymers?

  Dicarboxylic acids, diols, diamines
• In the nucleophilic attack step, a monomer with a reactive group attacks another monomer with an electrophilic group.
• Water is eliminated during the formation of an ester linkage in condensation polymerization.

  True
• Match the polymerization type with its feature:

  Condensation Polymerization ↔️ Requires monomers with reactive groups

  Addition Polymerization ↔️ Requires monomers with double bonds