2.1.2: Monomers And Polymers Flashcards
What are monomers?
Small, single units that act as the building blocks to create larger molecules.
The prefix ‘mono’ means one, as in ‘monobrow’.
What are polymers?
Made up of many monomers, usually thousands, chemically bonded together.
The prefix ‘poly’ means more than two.
What is a condensation reaction?
A chemical reaction where monomers bond together with the removal of water.
This reaction enables a chemical bond to form between the monomers.
What is the significance of water in a condensation reaction?
Water is removed to enable the formation of a chemical bond between monomers.
What is a hydrolysis reaction?
The opposite of a condensation reaction, where water is added to split bonded monomers.
‘Hydro’ means water, and ‘lysis’ means to split.
Fill in the blank: A _______ reaction involves the removal of water to form a chemical bond.
[condensation]
Fill in the blank: A _______ reaction involves adding water to break a chemical bond.
[hydrolysis]
What occurs during a hydrolysis reaction?
A water molecule is added between two bonded monomers to break the chemical bond.
What are the building blocks of polymers?
Monomers.
What is the role of covalent bonds in the formation of polymers?
Covalent bonds link monomers together to form polymers.
