C11: Polymers Flashcards
What is a polymer?
A structure made by joining thousands of small, identical molecules (monomers)
What are the properties of polymers?
Solids at room temp - many intermolecular forces between polymer molecules, it takes a lot of energy to break them… thus they have a;
High melting point
What is a polymerisation reaction?
The process of making a polymer from a large number of monomers.
What is an addition reaction?
A type of reaction when 2 substances react to create 1 new substance
What is an addition polymer and what are the reactants?
A polymer made from alkenes joined together
A C=C double bond is required
How are polymers named?
Addition - poly(alkene)
Condensation - poly(diol dicarboxylic acid)
How are polymer repeating units modelled?
n(c=c) -> -(-c-c-)-n
monomer polymer repeating unit
ethene poly(ethene)
truly pathetic
What are the reactants of a condensation polymerisation?
-Diol and a dicarboxylic acid
What are the products of condensation polymerisation?
poly(ester) and a small molecule (water)
What properties must the reactants have for condensation polymerisation to take place?
2 different functional groups - -COOH and -OH
Name the most basic amino acid
Glycine
What is the structure of glycine?
H H
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N-C-C = O
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H H OH
What are the functional groups of glycine?
-NH2 and -COOH
What are the products when glycine undergoes condensation polymerisation?
Water and a polypeptide
Glycine molecules can continually be added to form a polymer
What is a polypeptide?
A single chain of amino acid molecules bonded together
(lots of them make a protein)
