3.3.12 Polymers (A2)

Question 1

what is condensation?

Answer 1

small molecule eliminated (usually H2O) to form a larger molecule

Question 2

how many monomers are condensation polymers usually formed from?

Answer 2

two

Question 3

what properties do these monomers forming condensation polymers have?

Answer 3

each has two functional groups

Question 4

name some examples of condensation polymers?

Answer 4

polyesters
polyamides
polypeptides

Question 5

what is the linkage in a polyester?

Answer 5

ester linkage

Question 6

what molecule is eliminated in formation of a polyester?

Answer 6

H2O

Question 7

what are the two monomers which form a polyester (generic names and structures)?

Answer 7

diol and dicarboxylic acid or a molecule with both alcohol and a carboxylic acid functional group

Question 8

which monomers is terylene made from?

Answer 8

benzene 1,4 dicarboxylic acid
ethane 1,2 diol

Question 9

what is Terylene used for?

Answer 9

a fibre for making clothes

Question 10

what is the linkage in a polyamide?

Answer 10

peptide linkage

Question 11

which molecule is eliminated when a polyamide is formed?

Answer 11

H2O

Question 12

what are the two monomers used to form a polyamide (generic names and structures)?

Answer 12

diamine and dicarboxylic acid

Question 13

examples of polyamides?

Answer 13

Nylon, Kevlar

Question 14

which monomers is Nylon-6,6 made from?

Answer 14

1,6-diaminohexane
hexanedioic acid

Question 15

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

Answer 15

use hexane-1,6-diacyl chloride as the rate of reaction is much faster. HCl is eliminated

Question 16

what is Kevlar used for?

Answer 16

In body armour (bullet proof vests, stab vests)
helmets
oven gloves

Question 17

which monomers is Kevlar made from?

Answer 17

1,4 diaminobenzene
benzene 1,4 dicarboxylic acid

Question 18

why is Kevlar so strong?

Answer 18

Rigid chains and close packing of flat aromatic rings

Question 19

what are polypeptides?
what is the linkage?

Answer 19

peptide linkage
made from just one amino acid monomer

Question 20

why are polyalkenes not biodegradeable?

Answer 20

non polar C-H and C-C bonds

Question 21

why is it bad to burn polyalkenes?

Answer 21

releases CO2, CO, C (soot) and other toxic chemicals from monomers

Question 22

where do most polyalkenes end up?

Answer 22

landfill sites

Question 23

why can condensation polymers be broken down?

Answer 23

they have polar bonds

Question 24

how can condensation polymers be broken down?

Answer 24

hydrolysis (opposite of condensation)

Question 25

why does hydrolysis not happen in normal conditions?

Answer 25

very slow rate in standard conditions

Question 26

what are the four stages needed when recycling polymers?

Answer 26

collected –> sorted –> melted –> reformed

Question 27

what are the advantages of recycling polymers?

Answer 27

saves expense of crude oil and preserves a non-renewable resource
reduces landfill

Question 28

disadvantages of recycling polymers?

Answer 28

energy and manpower is needed for collecting, sorting and melting the polymers, making it expensive
can only be done a limited number of times

Question 29

what is the difference between addition and condensation polymerisation?

Answer 29

condensation makes the polymer and eliminates a small molecule; addition polymerisation breaks C=C to form only one product (just the polymer)

Question 30

explain hydrogen bonding between polyamides

Answer 30

both C=O and N-H are polar bonds, as N’s electronegativity > H’s and O’s electronegativity > C’s
Hydrogen bonding between H+ and O- in different molecules
Uses the lone pair of electrons on the O atom

Question 31

why do polyesters not show hydrogen bonding?

Answer 31

All O-H bonds are removed during polymerisation