7.3 Synthetic & naturally occurring polymers (Triple) Flashcards
What is a polymer? (Triple)
A polymer is a long chain molecule which is made by lots of smaller molecules
joining together.
How do
molecules containing C=C
bond form polymers? (Triple)
C=C bonds open up and many smaller molecules (monomers) join together to
form a chain (a polymer). No other products are made.
It is called an “addition polymerisation” reaction
Give 3 examples of addition
polymers and their uses. (Triple)
Polyethene - plastic bags
(Poly)tetrafluoroethene (PTFE) - teflon surfaces, for use in non-stick kitchenware
(Poly)chloroethene (polyvinyl chloride, PVC) - water pipes
What is a repeating unit of a
polymer? (Triple)
It is a smallest structure which, upon numerous translations, yields the structure of
the polymer.
In addition polymers: to draw it, take a monomer, change C=C to C-C and show
additional single bonds extending away from these carbons.
What is a condensation
polymer? (Triple, Higher)
It is a polymer made in condensation polymerisation.
How are condensation polymers made? (Triple, Higher)
In this reaction, many molecules join together; the polymer is formed, but also a
small molecule is released, e.g. H2O, HCl.
There are 2 main groups of condensation polymers,
name them and give industrially
relevant examples. (Triple, Higher)
Polyesters, e.g. terylene.
Polyamides, e.g. Nylon.
What is an amide bond? (Triple, Higher)
An amide bond is similar to the ester bond, with O replaced by N, e.g.
(C=O)-NH2
Just like an ester, it contains the C=O group.
What is an amino acid? (Triple, Higher)
It is an organic compound that contains both a carboxylic acid functionality
(COOH) and an amine functional group (-NH2).
How do amino acids make
proteins? (Triple, Higher)
By numerous condensation polymerisation reactions; proteins are polymers made
of amino acids (monomers).
What are
polypeptides? (Triple, Higher)
Polypeptides are also made by condensation polymerisation of amino acids, but
are shorter than proteins. One could think about proteins as a product of many
polypeptide chains bonded together.
What are carbohydrates? (Triple)
They are organic molecules made of C,H, and O. They are biologically relevant,
e.g. starch and cellulose.
Both of these are polymers made of glucose (other carbohydrate) monomers.
Their structures differ in the way the glucose molecules are joined together.
What is DNA? Describe its
role and structure. (Triple)
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a material that makes up chromosomes - cell
structures that store genetic information.
DNA is made of two polymer chains that are held together in a double helix.
Each polymer chain can be made from 4 different monomers - nucleotides.
