7. Organic Chemistry (polymers, addition polymerisation, condensation polymerisation, DNA)

Question 1

What are monomers?

Answer 1

small molecules that combine together to form a polymer

Question 2

What is a polymer?

Answer 2

A long chain molecule which is made by lots of smaller molecules joining together

Question 3

How do molecules containing C = C bond form polymers?

Answer 3

The C = C bond opens up and many smaller molecules (monomers) join together to form a chain (a polymer).

Question 4

What is an addition polymerisation reaction?

Answer 4

When the C = C bond opens up and many smaller molecules (monomers) join together to form a chain (a polymer).

Question 5

Give 3 examples of addition polymers and their uses?

Answer 5

1. polyethene - plastic bags
2. (Poly)tetrafluoroethene - non-stick pans
3. Polyvinylchloride (PVC) - water pipes

Question 6

When is a polymer referred to as a condensation polymer?

Answer 6

when water is produced as a by-product of the reaction

Question 7

How is a condensation polymer made?

Answer 7

When two monomers with different functional groups react, they join together, usually losing small molecules such as water

Question 8

Give two examples of a condensation polymer?

Answer 8

1. polyesters, eg. terylene
2. polyamides, eg. nylon

Question 9

What is an amide bond?

Answer 9

A bond between adjacent amino acids

Question 10

What is an amino acid?

Answer 10

An organic compound that contains both a carboxylic acid functional group (-COOH) and an amine functional group (-NH2)

Question 11

What are polypeptides?

Answer 11

Chains of amino acids

Question 12

How are polypeptides (proteins) made?

Answer 12

by the condensation polymerisation of amino acids

Question 13

What are carbohydrates?

Answer 13

Organic molecules made of C, H and O.

Question 14

Many bromopropene molecules combine in an addition reaction to form a polymer. What is the name of the polymer formed?

Answer 14

poly(bromopropene)

Question 15

What are starch and cellulose?

Answer 15

Natural polymers made out of glucose

Question 16

What are the 3 naturally occurring polymers?

Answer 16

• proteins
• starch
• cellulose

Question 17

How do starch and cellulose differ?

Answer 17

in the way their glucose molecules are joined together

Question 18

What is DNA?

Answer 18

Deoxyribonucleic acid, is a large molecule that makes up chromosomes

Question 19

What is DNA made up of?

Answer 19

• two polymer chains held together in a double helix (protecting it from damage)

Question 20

What can each polymer chain in DNA be made up of?

Answer 20

4 different monomers that are called nucleotides

Question 21

What is a dimer?

Answer 21

two monomers combined

Question 22

Which type of polymers are biodegradable and why?

Answer 22

• condensation polymers
• as ester links can be broken down by microorganisms

Question 23

Which monomers combine to form DNA?

Answer 23

nucleotides

Question 24

What 3 things are examples of carbohydrate polymers?

Answer 24

• glycogen
• cellulose
• starch

Question 25

What 2 things are examples of carbohydrate monomers?

Answer 25

• glucose
• fructose

Question 26

What are proteins?

Answer 26

polymers made of amino acids, which are monomers

Question 27

What two things create a condensation polymer?

Answer 27

dicarboxylic acids and diols ( 2 carboxylic acids and alcohols)