Polymerisation and carboxylic acids

• Condensation polymerisation

  Two functional groups combine to form a polymer and a small molecule
• Amino acids

  Molecules with at least 2 functional groups
• Carboxylic acids

  • Methanoic acid (1-Carbon)
  • Ethanoic acid (2-Carbons)
  • Propanoic acid (3-Carbons)
  • Butanoic acid (4-Carbons)
• Homologous series

  Compounds with the same functional group and a repeating unit
• Esters


  A homologous series of compounds with the functional group COO made when alcohols react with carboxylic acids
• Carboxylic acids


  A homologous series of compounds with the functional group COOH, also weak acids
• Acid properties

  • Dissolve in water to form acidic solutions with pH less than 7
  • React with metals to form salt + hydrogen
  • React with bases to form salt + water
  • React with carbonates to form salt + water + carbon dioxide
• Biological polymers

  • DNA
  • Proteins
  • Starch
  • Cellulose
• Addition polymerisation 


  Long chains of monomers that require carbon to carbon double bonds to form polymers