12: Polymerisation

Question 1

What is the difference between addition and condensation polymerisation?

Answer 1

Addition polymerisation forms only a polymer whereas condensation polymerisation forms a polymer and one other molecule. (usually water)

Question 2

Give the formula of an ester link in a condensation polymer.

Answer 2

COO

Question 3

What 2 types of organic molecule are used to form polyester?

Answer 3

Diol and dicarboxylic acid

Question 4

Name a brand of polyester.

Answer 4

Terylene

Question 5

Name the 2 molecules that make up terylene.

Answer 5

Ethane-1,2-diol and Benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid

Question 6

Give a use for a type of Terylene that is stable at hot and cold tempeatures.

Answer 6

Containers for ready meals

Question 7

Give 2 uses for terylene at room temperature.

Answer 7

Clothes, plastic bottles

Question 8

Give the formula of a peptide link.

Answer 8

CONH

Question 9

Give the 2 types of organic molecule that make up polyamides.

Answer 9

Dicarboxylic acids and diamines

Question 10

Name 2 types of polyamide.

Answer 10

Nylon and Kevlar

Question 11

Name the 2 molecules that react to form nylon.

Answer 11

1,6-diaminohexane and hexanedioc acid

Question 12

Give 5 things that nylon is used to make and explain why.

Answer 12

Clothing, carpet, rope, airbags and parachutes.

Question 13

When making nylon, what type of organic molecule can we use to speed up the process?

Answer 13

Diacylchloride

Question 14

Name the 2 molecules used to make Kevlar.

Answer 14

Benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and 1,4-diaminobenzene

Question 15

Give 2 properties of kevlar.

Answer 15

Light but very strong

Question 16

Give 3 uses of Kevlar.

Answer 16

Car tyres, sports equipment and bulletproof vests

Question 17

Name the 2 types of organic molecule used to make amino acids.

Answer 17

Amine and carboxylic acid.

Question 18

What does hydrolysis of polyesters and polyamides require?

Answer 18

Water

Question 19

To speed up hydrolysis of polyamides, what conditions are needed?

Answer 19

Acidic conditions

Question 20

To speed up hydrolysis of polyesters, what conditions are needed?

Answer 20

Basic conditions

Question 21

Why are condensation polymers stronger than addition polymers? (What type of IMFs?)

Answer 21

They are made of chains containing polar bonds, meaning that they have permanent dipole-dipole forces and hydrogen bonds between chains.

Question 22

Why is Kevlar so lightweight?

Answer 22

Low atomic masses

Question 23

Why are addition polymers most likely to be non biodegradable?

Answer 23

They are chemically inert and contain non polar bonds

Question 24

Why are condensation polymers biodegradable?

Answer 24

They can be hydrolysed.

Question 25

Give some issues of landfill.

Answer 25

Requires lots of space, waste releases methane during decomposition, waste releases toxins that could wash into water

Question 26

Why is the process of burning PVC toxic?
How is toxicity reduced?
How does this contribute to climate change?

Answer 26

Produces HCl gas
HCl can be passed through scrubbers which can neutralise HCl by reacting it with a base.
Produces CO2

Question 27

Give some advantages to recycling plastics.

Answer 27

Reduces waste in landfill
Saves raw materials
Produces less CO2 than burning plastic
Cheaper than making new plastics

Question 28

Give some disadvantages of recycling plastics.

Answer 28

It is quite difficult
Collecting and sorting waste more expensive than landfill
You cannot remake the plastic you started with
Plastic can be contaminated during recycling.

Question 29

Explain why polyesters are biodegradable but polyalkenes are not.

Answer 29

Polyesters contain polar bonds which can be hydrolysed over time but polyalkenes do not.