Condensation polymers

• Condensation polymerisation

  Process by which monomers combine to form a polymer while releasing small by-products such as water
• Formula for making a polyester

  Diol + dicarboxylic acid —> polyester + water
• For polyesters how does condensation polymerisation work

  A diol (alcohol with 2 OH groups) and a dicarboxylic acid (carboxylic acid with 2 COOH groups) bond together

  As part of the process, the diol and dicarboxylic acid lose hydrogen and oxygen which bond together to form water
• Which two functional groups are involved in forming a polyester

  Carboxyl group (COOH)

  Alcohol group (OH)
• Biodegradable

  Substance can be broken down by naturally occurring organisms
• Are both addition polymers and condensation polymers biodegradable

  Only condensation polymers are biodegradable