c11 polymers

• monomers are short molecules (often alkenes) that can be used to make plastics called polymers
• polymers are long molecules that are formed when lots of monomers are joined together
• condensation polymers are polymers made by condensation reactions (water is formed)
• co-polymers are made from two different monomers
• during condensation polymerisation monomers combine to give one polymer molecule and a molecule is eliminated (H2O, HCl)
• monomers must have at least two functional groups per molecule for a condensation polymer to be made
• polyesters are an example of condensation
• for polyesters to be formed the monomers must contain both a carboxylic acid group and a hydroxyl group and be a diol or a dicarboxylic acid
• addition polymerisation forms one product (100% atom economy) usually uses the same polymer and needs double bonds
• condensation polymerisation forms two products, uses different monomers and has no double bonds
• starch, cellulose, proteins and DNA are examples of natural polymers.
• natural polymers's monomers are smaller biological molecules such as glucose
• carbohydrates are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
• carbohydrates have the general formula Cx(H20)y
• carbohydrates are made up of one or more types of sugar molecules
• the most common type of sugar is glucose C6H1206
• there are two different types of monosaccharides (single sugar): glucose and fructose (in fruit)
• monosaccharides can bond together to make larger molecules
• monosaccharides can act as monomers to make monomers like starch and cellulose by condensation polymerisation
• DNA stands for deoxyribose nucleic acid
• DNA is made up of 2 polymer strands running in opposite directions held in place by intermolecular forces called hydrogen bonds between base pairs on opposite sides forming a double helix shape
• each monomer (nucleotide) is made up of a phosphate group, a pentose sugar and a nitrogenous base
• there are four different nucleotide monomers that react with each other to form DNA polymers