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AQA A Level Organic Chemistry > 12. Polymers > Flashcards

12. Polymers Flashcards

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1
Q

Are polymers saturated?

A

Yes

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2
Q

What are monomers?

A

The constituent alkene molecules of polymers

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3
Q

What happens in addition polymerisation?

A

A large number of monomers are combined to form a single polymer chain, by firstly breaking the double bonds

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4
Q

What are polyalkenes?

A

Polymers made from alkene monomers

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5
Q

What are polymers?

A

When alkene molecules are joined to give large molecules

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6
Q

What property of polyalkenes makes them non-biodegradable?

A

They are chemically inert

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7
Q

How are polyalkenes disposed of?

A

By burning, burying in landfills or recycling

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8
Q

What is the difference between a drawing of the repeated unit and the polymer structure?

A

Repeating unit does not contain brackets or ‘n’

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9
Q

To form condensation polymers, what must monomers have?

A

A functional group on each end

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10
Q

What is it called when a monomer has a functional group on each end of the molecule?

A

Bifunctional

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11
Q

In monomers forming condensation polymers, do the functional groups have to be the same?

A

No - they can be the same or different

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12
Q

What is produced when a bond forms between two monomers in a condensation polymer?

A

A small molecule (e.g. H2O or HCl) depending on the monomers

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13
Q

What are the common types of condensation polymer?

A
  • polyesters
  • polyamides
  • polypeptides
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14
Q

What holds condensation polymers together?

A

Intermolecular forces

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15
Q

What are the intermolecular forces between condensation polymers dependent on?

A

The atoms and bonds within the monomers

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16
Q

Why are condensation polymers biodegradable?

A

They can be hydrolysed - broken down into smaller fragments

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17
Q

Are condensation polymers biodegradable?

A

Yes

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18
Q

What is the main example of a condensation polymer where the monomers have different functional groups on either side?

A

Amino acid

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19
Q

What is formed when a carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol?

A

An ester and water

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20
Q

What is formed when a dicarboxylic acid reacts with a diol?

A

A polyester and water

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21
Q

What is the use of terylene (PET)?

A

Making plastic bottles and clothing

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22
Q

What type of condensation polymer is PET?

A

Polyester

23
Q

What is formed when a carboxylic acid reacts with an amine?

A

An amide and water

24
Q

What is formed when a dicarboxylic acid reacts with a diamine?

A

A polyamide and water

25
Q

What type of condensation polymer is kevlar?

A

Polyamide

26
Q

Uses of kevlar?

A
  • body armour → bulletproof vests and combat helmets

* manufacture gloves

27
Q

What type of condensation polymer is nylon 6,6?

A

Polyamide

28
Q

What small molecule is released in the production of nylon 6,6?

A

HCl

29
Q

Uses of nylon?

A
  • tights
  • machine parts
  • rope
30
Q

How are polypeptides formed?

A

Many amino acids react and join together as water is released

31
Q

Why will the repeating unit differ for different polypeptides?

A

Different amino acids are joined together in a specific sequence

32
Q

When will a polypeptide with a common repeating unit be formed?

A

If a single amino acid is used

33
Q

Why are amino acids polypeptides and polyamides?

A

They contain a carboxylic acid group and an amine group

34
Q

What type of condensation polymer are amino acids classed as?

A

Polypeptides and polyamides

35
Q

How are monomers identified from a section of the polymer chain?

A

Look for ester/amide linkage - this is where the monomers have joined together

Remember that atoms have been removed to join these together and there the functional groups need to be reformed

36
Q

What is used to break down polypeptides?

A

Concentrated acid

37
Q

What happens when amino acids are broken down with concentrated acid?

A

The amino acid monomers will be in the form of the protonated zwitterion

38
Q

Why, when polypeptides are broken down, are amino acid monomers sometimes in the form of protonated zwitterions?

A

Concentrated acid is used to break down polypeptides

39
Q

What is the strongest IMF between addition polymers that are non-polar?

A

Van der waal’s

40
Q

When will the strongest type of IMF between addition polymers not be VDWs?

A

If they contain polar bonds, and are not hydrocarbons

41
Q

Why do addition polymers have relatively high melting and boiling points?

A

Hydrocarbon chains are often very long, so many Van der Waal’s forces exist between the chains

42
Q

Why do addition polymers tend to melt over a range of temperatures?

A

The chain length is variable, so there may be a different number of intermolecular forces between the chains

43
Q

Why do addition polymers tend to be soft?

A

The chains are not rigidly held in place by each other

44
Q

In condensation polymers, what is the strength of the IMFs between different chains in polyamides and proteins enhanced by?

A

Hydrogen bonding

45
Q

What is the result of polyalkenes being chemically inert?

A

They have many uses, but are also not easily decomposed

46
Q

Why are addition polymers chemically inert?

A

They are long saturated hydrocarbon chains

47
Q

Which constitutes a smaller environmental hazard: addition or condensation polymers? Why is this?

A

Condensation polymers - polar carbon atoms that can be easily attacked by nucleophiles in hydrolysis

48
Q

Why can condensation polymers undergo hydrolysis?

A
  • they are made up of chains containing polar bonds

* polar C atoms can be readily attacked by nucleophiles and as a result the polymers can be broken up

49
Q

Advantages of disposing of polymers through burning?

A

Prevents build up of polymers in the environment

50
Q

Advantages of disposing of polymers through burying?

A

Prevents release of toxic/environmentally harmful gases

51
Q

Advantages of disposing of polymers through recycling?

A
  • helps preserve dwindling supplies of crude oil

* reduces amount of unrecycled plastic in landfill

52
Q

Disadvantages of disposing of polymers through burning?

A
  • form carbon particulates (C)
  • form CO - toxic
  • form H2O and CO2 - greenhouse gases
53
Q

Disadvantages of disposing of polymers through burying?

A
  • limited supply of landfill sites and lack of biodegradability means these will fill up
  • leaching may mean that nearby groundwater supplies could become contaminated
54
Q

Disadvantages of disposing of polymers through recycling?

A

Involves collection, sorting, melting and remoulding → all of which use energy and manpower → expensive

AQA A Level Organic Chemistry (16 decks)

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