Polymers

• What is CONDENSATION

  small molecules eliminated (usually with H2O) to form a larger molecule
• How many monomers are condensation polymers usually formed from

  two
• What properties do these monomers forming condensation polymers have

  Each one has TWO functional groups
• Give examples of condensation polymers

  • Polyesters
  • Polyamides
  • Polypeptides
• What type of linkage is in a polymer

  Ester linkage

  
• What molecules is eliminated in the formation of a polyester

  H2O
• What are the two monomers which form a polyester (generic names and structures)

  • Diol and dicarboxylic acid
  • Or a molecule with both ALCOHOL and a CARBOXYLIC ACID functional group
• Draw a generic repeating unit for a polyester

  .

  
• Which monomers is terylene made from

  .

  
• Draw the repeating unit of terylene

  .

  
• What is terylene used for

  As a fibre for making clothes
• What is the linkage in a polyamide

  Peptide linkage
• Which molecule is eliminated when a polyamide is formed

  H2O
• What are the two monomers used to from a polyamide

  Diamine and dicarboxylic acid
• What are some examples of polyamides

  • Nylon
  • Kevlar
• Which monomers are Nylon-6,6 made from

  
• What is the repeating unit of nylon-6,6

  .

  
• If you are making Nylon in the lab, what monomers would you use and why, what molecule is eliminated

  • Use hexane-1,6-diacyl chloride as the rate of reaction is much faster
  • HCl is eliminated
• What is kevlar used for

  In body armour, bullet proof vests
• What monomers are kevlar made from

  .

  
• What is the repeating unit of kevlar

  .

  
• Why is kevlar so strong

  • Rigid chains
  • Close packing of flat aromatic rings
• What are polypeptides

  • Same linkage as polyamides
  • But they are made from just ONE amino acid monomer
• Draw a dipeptide

  .

  
• Draw the repeating unit of polypeptides

  .

  
• Why are poly(alkenes) NOT biodegradable

  • NON-POLAR C-H and C-C bonds
• Why is it bad to burn poly(alkenes)

  • Releases CO2, CO, C (soot) and other toxic chemicals from monomers
• Where do most poly(alkenes) end up

  Landfill sites
• Why can condensation polymers be broken down

  • They have POLAR bonds
• How are condensation polymers broken down

  Hydrolysis
• Why does hydrolysis not happen in normal conditions

  VERY SLOW rate in standard conditions
• What are the FOUR stages needed when recycling polymers

  Collected -> sorted -> melted -> reformed
• What are the ADVANTAGES to recycling polymers

  • Saves expense of crude oil and preserves a non-renewable resource
  • Reduces landfill
• What are the DISADVANTAGES to recycling polymers

  • Energy and manpower is needed for collecting, sorting and melting the polymers, making it EXPENSIVE
  • Can only be done a limited number of times
• What is the difference between addition and condensation polymerisation

  • CONDENSATION makes the polymer and ELIMINATES a small molecule
  • ADDITION breaks the c=c to form only ONE product (just the polymer)
• Explain hydrogen bonding between polyamides

  • Both C=O and N-H are POLAR bonds, as N's electronegativity is GREATER than H's and O's electronegativity is GREATER than C's
  • Hydrogen bonding between H + AND O- in different molecules
  • Uses the lone pair of electrons on the O atom
• Why do POLYESTERS not show hydrogen bonding

  All the O-H bonds are removed during polymerisation