6.2.3 Polyesters and polyamides

Question 1

What is condensation polymerisation?

Answer 1

When monomers join together to form a a polymer with a loss of another small molecule - usually H2O or HCl.

Question 2

How to make a polyester?

Answer 2

Monomers are joined by ester linkages to form a long chain (polymer).

Question 3

What are the two ways of making a polyester?

Answer 3

1. From one monomer - must contain a COOH or a COCl and a OH group.
2. From 2 monomers - one contains two COOH or two COCl (or one of each) and the other contains two OH groups.

Question 4

How is a polyester formed from one monomer?

Answer 4

H2O removed

Ester link is the C double bonded to an oxygen and the same C single bonded to an oxygen

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Produces (2n-1) waters

Question 5

How is a polyester formed from two monomers?

Answer 5

H2O removed

Ester link is the C double bonded to an oxygen and the same C single bonded to an oxygen

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Produces (2n-1) waters

Question 6

What are uses of polyesters?

Answer 6

Clothes

Question 7

What are uses of polyamides?

Answer 7

Thread

Question 8

What are monomers joined by to make polyamides?

Answer 8

Amide linkages

Question 9

What are the 2 ways of making polyamides?

Answer 9

1. From one monomer - must contain a COOH and a NH2 group (also formed from an acyl chloride and an amine group)
2. From two monomers - one contains 2 COOH groups (or acyl chloride) and the other contains two NH2 groups.

Question 10

When drawing the polyamide, where do the C=O and NH have to be situated?

Answer 10

On opposite sides

Question 11

What is needed when making polyamide from 2 monomers?

Answer 11

One monomer has o be a diamine (two NH2 groups)

One monomer has to be dicarboxylic acid (also formed from from a diacylchloride and diamine)

Question 12

How can a condensation polymer be reversed?

Answer 12

Hydrolysing with water

Question 13

What is also added when hydrolysing a condensation polymer?

Answer 13

An acid or a base as it is very slow with just water alone

Question 14

What happens when a condensation polymer is hydrolysed with acid?

Answer 14

2 monomers are separated and hydrogen is added to all possible areas

Question 15

What happens when a condensation polymer is hydrolysed with alkali?

Answer 15

2 monomers are separated and a dicarboxylate salt is formed