Chemistry: Polymers

Chemistry55 CardsCreated 2 months ago

This flashcard set covers condensation polymerisation, where monomers with two functional groups react with the elimination of a small molecule. It focuses on the formation of polyesters from carboxylic acids or acyl chlorides with alcohols, producing water or HCl as by-products.

What does condensation polymerisation involve

The reaction between monomers containing two different functional groups with the loss of a small molecule

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Key Terms

Term
Definition

What does condensation polymerisation involve

The reaction between monomers containing two different functional groups with the loss of a small molecule

What can polyesters be formed from

The reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol

What can polyesters be formed from beside a carboxylic acid and what would the other product be in this casee

Acyl chloride

Product would be HCl

How are the monomers joined together in polyesters

An Ester link

Polyesters: what is eliminated when the Ester link forms

A molecule of water

Polyesters: what is removed from the COOH group when the Ester link forms

OH group

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TermDefinition

What does condensation polymerisation involve

The reaction between monomers containing two different functional groups with the loss of a small molecule

What can polyesters be formed from

The reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol

What can polyesters be formed from beside a carboxylic acid and what would the other product be in this casee

Acyl chloride

Product would be HCl

How are the monomers joined together in polyesters

An Ester link

Polyesters: what is eliminated when the Ester link forms

A molecule of water

Polyesters: what is removed from the COOH group when the Ester link forms

OH group

Polyesters: what is removed from the OH group of the alcohol when the Ester link is formed

h atom


Uses of polyesters

Fibres

Polyesters: when can polyesters be formed from a single monomer

If it contains both an alcohol and a carboxylic acid group

Polyamides: what are polyamides formed from

The reaction of a dicarboxylic acid and a diamine

Polyamides: what are the monomers joined together by

An amide link

Polyamides: what is eliminated when the amide link forms

A molecule of water

Polyamides: what is removed from the acid grou owhen the link forms

OH

What is removed from the NH2 group of the amine when the amide rink forms

H ATOM

what is nylon 6,6 formed from

1,6 diaminohexane and hexane 1,6 dicarboxylic acid


uses of nylon 6 6

fibres, ropes, carpets, parachute silk

what is kevlar formed from

1,4 diamino benzene and benzene dicarboxylic acid

uses of kevlar

bullet proof material

what are the uses of kevlar due to

its strength

what is kevlars strength a result of

its structure

why can kevlar chains pack closely together

theyre planar

what does it mean that kevlar chains can pack closely together

intermolecular forces between neighbouring chains are stronger than in other polymers

what is the strongest intermolecular force present in kevlar

h bonding

where does hydrogen bond from in kevlar

delta + H atom of one amide link and lp O=C of another `

how can polyamides be formed

from a single monomer that contains both an amine and a carboxylic acid functional group

what is nylon 6 formed from

6-aminohexanoic acid

what monomers are polypeptide made from

amino acid monomers

why can amino acids react together to form a condensation polymer

each has an amine group and a carboxylic acid group

comparison of addition and condensation polymers: condensation polymerisation involves…

monomers joining together with the elimination of a small molecule such as water or HCl

comparison of addition and condensation polymers: in condensation the monomers must be either…

one molecule with 2 different functional groups/2 different molecules each with 2 functional groups

comparison of addition and condensation polymers: condensation polymers normally contain which kind of linkages

ester or amide

comparison of addition and condensation polymers: addition polymerisation involves

successive addition of a monomer to the growing polymer chain

comparison of addition and condensation polymers: the monomer in addition polymerisation is normally

an alkene RCH=CH2

comparison of addition and condensation polymers: the backbone of an addition polymer is

a continuous chain of carbon atoms

comparison of addition and condensation polymers: which kind of polymers are generally stronger and more rigid

condensation polymers are generally stronger and more rigid than addition

comparison of addition and condensation polymers: why are condensation polymers generally stronger and more rigid

IMF between polymer chains

  • condensation: contain polar bonds

  • polyesters: permanent dipole-dipole between chains

  • polyamides: hydrogen bonds between chains

what does a repeating unit show

one of each monomer present in the polymer ch

why are addition polymers chemically inert

carbon skeleton consists of C-C single bonds

can addition polymers be hydrolysed

no

can polyamides and polyesters be hydrolysed

yes

hydrolysis

breaking a bond using water

why is a catalyst used in hydrolysis of polyamides and polyesters

reaction is slow so catalyst added to increase rate

what catalysts can be used for hydrolysis of polyamides and polyesters

aqueous strong acid/aqueous strong base

conditions for hydrolysis polyesters and polyamides

heat and reflux

why are addition polymers inert

the bonds between the repeat units are strong and non polar so are not susceptible to attack by nucleohiles

why are addition polymers non biodegradable and what does this mean

because they are inert

means they build up in waste tips and landfill sites

why can polyesters and polyamides be broken down by hydrolysis

because the bonds between the repeating units are polar so are susceptible to attack by nucleophiles

are polyesters and polyamides biodegradable

yes

what 3 methods are there for the disposal of polymers

  • burying

  • combustion

  • sorting for reusing/recycling

advantage of burying

cheap and easy

disadvantage burying

requires areaas of land

waste releases methane and can release toxins (could run into water supplies) when decomposing

advantage combustion

produces heat energy

disadvantage combustion

  • increases levels CO2

  • incomplete combustion- CO or C particles

  • burning polystyrene under certain conditions can lead to toxic styrene vapour

  • burning chlorinated polymers- HCl gas needs to be removed

advantage recycling

  • polymers derived from crude oil- saves expensive resource by recycling

  • saves energy from crude oil refining

  • reduces landfill

  • less CO2 than burning

disadvantage recycling

  • plastics need to be collected, transported and sorted- energy, manpower- expensive

  • can be technically difficult to recycle some plastics

  • often cant remake plastic started with- have to make something else