condensation polymerisation

• Alkanes, alkenes, alcohols and carboxylic acids

  Different homologous series of organic compounds
• Naturally occurring and synthetic polymers

  Can be formed from a variety of monomers
• Addition polymerisation


  Chemical reaction in which unsaturated monomers (small molecules) join together by addition reactions to produce a polymer (long molecule)
• Monomers in addition polymerisation

  Must have a C=C double bond
• Condensation polymerisation


  Chemical reaction in which monomers (small molecules) join together to produce a polymer and a small molecule such as water
• Monomers in condensation polymerisation

  Do not need a C=C double bond but they do need two functional groups
• By-product of condensation polymerisation

  A small molecule, usually water
• Making polyesters


  1. Ethane diol (HO-CH2-CH2-OH) can react with butanedioic acid (HOOC-CH2-CH2-COOH)

  2. n HO-CH2-CH2-OH + n HOOC-CH2-CH2-COOH → (-CH2-CH2-OOC-CH2-CH2-COO-)n + 2n H2O
• Polyesters occur naturally as biological polymers, but can also be made artificially
• Man-made polymers are often used in clothing
• Polyesters are an example of a condensation polymer