3.3.12 Polymers

Question 1

Examples of polymers:

Polyamides = diamine + dicarboxylic acid (has amide linkage)

Answer 1

Polyamides are formed from long chain molecules which provides them with strength.

Question 2

Example of polymers:

Polyesters: diol + dicarboxylic acid (has ester linkage)

Answer 2

REMEMBER ESTERS HAVE “COOCH” IN THE MIDDLE

Question 3

Examples of polymers:

Polypeptides: between amino acids

Answer 3

Question 4

Give 2 examples of Polyamides

Answer 4

Kevlar and Nylon 6,6

Question 5

Give an example of a Polyester

Answer 5

Terylene (PET)

Question 6

Give content about hydrolysis

Answer 6

Hydrolysis: the addition of water to separate a polymer into its constituent molecules.

The water is attracted to the polar regions of the polymer, meaning the links can be broken.

Question 7

Uses of condensation polymers

Answer 7

Condensation polymers contain polar bonds esp in the amide and ester linkages.

Hydrogen bonding and dipoles can be formed between the polymer chains which can hold them together in a strong structure.

Makes polymers useful for bulletproof vests and heat protective materials because we would need a lot of energy to overcome the intermolecular forces between the molecules of the polymers.

Question 8

Addition polymers vs condensation polymers in the disposal + biodegradability

Answer 8

Polyalkenes (addition polymers) are inert and non-biodegradable bc it is non-polar. They are bad because you have to burn them to break them down –> releases SO2 and CO, leads to ACID RAIN

Polyesters/amides can be broken down via hydrolysis bc it is polar, therefore are biodegradable.

Question 9

Advantages + Disadvantages of recycling plastics

Answer 9

ADVANTAGES:
*reduces reliance on landfills
*less CO2 produced than incinerating them
*cheaper to recycle than to make them from scratch

DISADVANTAGES:
*plastics can be contaminated
*hard to re-make the original plastic from recycled material
*difficult to recycle due to the wide range of plastics