Condensation Polymers

Question 1

Give examples of condensation polymers

Answer 1

• Polyamides
• Polyesters
• Polypeptide

Question 2

What is condensation polymerisation?

Answer 2

• Two different types of monomer, each with at least two functional groups
• Functional group reacts with a group on another monomer to form a link creating polymer chains
• Each time a link is formed, water is lost

Question 3

Give the equation for the formation of nylon6,6 from 1,6-diaminohexane and hexanedioic acid

Answer 3

Check physical flashcards for answers

Question 4

What molecules are polyamides formed from?

Answer 4

dicarboxylic acids and diamines

Question 5

Give the equation for the formation of kevlar from 1,4-diaminobenzene and benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid

Answer 5

Check physical flashcards for answers

Question 6

Give the uses of nylon 6,6

Answer 6

• Clothing
• Carpet
• Rope
• Airbags
• Parachutes

Question 7

Give the uses of Kevlar

Answer 7

• Bullet proof vests
• Boat construction
• Car tyres
• Light weight sports equipment

Question 8

What molecules make up polyesters

Answer 8

Diols and dicarboxylic acids

Question 9

Give the equation for the formation of Terylene from benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and ethane1,2-diol

Answer 9

Check physical flashcards for answers

Question 10

What process produces original monomers

Answer 10

Hydrolysis

Question 11

What molecules is needed for the process of hydrolysis?

Answer 11

Water

Question 12

How are monomers from repeating units drawn?

Answer 12

• Break the chain through the middle bond of the amide or ester link
• Add OH or H to each end of the new molecules

Question 13

Give the equation to show the formation of a dicarboxylic acid and a diamine from an amide link using water

Answer 13

Check physical flashcards for answers

Question 14

What type of bonds are found in condensation polymers?

Answer 14

Polar bonds

Question 15

Describe the effect of condensation polymers having polar bonds

Answer 15

• They are more stronger and rigid than addition polymers
• So as well as vander waals forces, there are permanent dipole-dipole forces and hydrogen bonds between the polymer chains

Question 16

Give the advantages and disadvantages of polyalkenes

Answer 16

• They are addition polymers e.g poly(ethene) and polystyrene
• They are non-polar carbon chains which makes them chemically inert and unreactive
• They are non-biodegradable

Question 17

Give advantages and disadvantages of condensation polymers

Answer 17

• They have polar bonds which makes them open to attack by nucleophiles
• So they can be broken down by hydrolysis so they are biodegradable
• Although the process is very slow

Question 18

What are the advantages and disadvantages of burying waste plastics

Answer 18

Landfill is used when:
- it is difficult to separate waste plastics form other waste
- not sufficient in quantities to make separation financially worthwhile
- To difficult to technically recycle
- It is cheap and an easy method of waste disposal but requires areas of land
- Waste can decompose and release methane (greenhouse gas), leaks from landfill can also contaminate water supplies

Question 19

What are the advantages and disadvantages of burning waste plastics

Answer 19

-Waste plastics can be burned and the heat can be used to generate electricity
- This process must be carefully controlled to reduce the the release of toxic gases
- Polymers that contain chlorine produce HCl they burn which needs to be removed
-Waste gases such as carbon dioxide will still contribute to greenhouse effect
- Waste gases from combustion are passed through scrubbers which can neutralise gases such as HCl allowing them to react with a base

Question 20

What are the advantages of recycling waste plastics

Answer 20

• It reduces the amount of waste going to landfill
• It saves raw materials which is important because oil is non-renewable
• The cost of recycling plastics is lower than making the plastics from scratch
• It produces less CO2 emissions than burning the plastic

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of recycling waste plastics

Answer 21

• It is technically difficult to recycle plastics
• Collecting, sorting and processing the plastic is more expensive than burning/landfill
• You often can’t remake the plastic you started with- you have to make something else
• The plastic can be easily contaminated during the recycling process