14: Polymers Flashcards
What is condensation polymerisation
A polymerisation reaction in which a small molecule is eliminated when the monomers join together
How are polyesters formed
By reacting monomers together by esterification reactions
How many waters are eliminated from the condensation polymerisation of a monomer that contains both an alcohol and a carboxylic acid group
n-1 H₂O
how many waters are eliminated when diol and a dicarboxylic are polymerised
2n-1 H₂O
What is eliminated when alcohol and an acyl chloride polymerise
2n-1 HCl
What two groups are needed to make a polyamide
Amine group
Carboxylic acid group or acyl chloride
What happens to a polyester when it under goes acid catalysed hydrolysis under reflux
The alcohol and carboxylic acid groups are split up
Goes back to how it was before polymerising
What happens when a polyester under goes base catalysed hydrolysis under reflux
The polyester splits up into the alcohol molecule and the carboxylic acid molecule
The alcohol molecule returns how it was before being polymerised
The carboxylic acid is turned into a salt (-COO¯)
What happens when a polyamide undergoes acid catalysed hydrolysis under reflux
The polymer splits up into the carboxylic acid molecule and the amine
The NH₂ in the amine turns into NH³†
The carboxylic acid molecule goes back to how it was before it was polymerised
What happens when a polyamide undergoes base catalysed hydrolysis under reflux
The polyamide splits up into the carboxylic acid molecule and the amine
The carboxylic acid is turned into a salt (-COO¯)
The amine group is how it would be before it was polymerised
What are alternatives to throwing away polymers
Recycling
Burning to generate electricity
Chemical feedstock
What are two more sustainable alternatives to regular polymers
Biodegradable polymers: these can be broken down by microorganisms (enzyme-catalysed hydrolysis)
Photodegradable polymers: These can be broken down by uv-light
