C11 - Polymers Flashcards
What is addition polymerisation?
The reaction where many monomers (alkenes) join together to form a polymer, with no other products formed
Give two examples of addition polymers
Poly(ethene), poly(propene).
In addition polymers, how is the repeating unit related to the monomer?
The repeating unit contains the same atoms as the monomer (no atoms are lost).
What is condensation polymerisation?
Polymerisation where monomers with two functional groups react, losing small molecules like water.
What small molecule is often lost during condensation polymerisation?
Water (H2O).
Give an example of monomers used in condensation polymerisation.
Ethanediol and hexanedioic acid (make a polyester).
What are amino acids?
Molecules that have both an amine group (–NH2) and a carboxyl group (–COOH).
What do amino acids form when they polymerise?
Polypeptides (proteins).
What is the polymer formed from glycine called?
A polypeptide.
What is DNA made from?
Two polymer chains made from four different nucleotides, forming a double helix
Name three other naturally occurring polymers
Proteins, starch, cellulose.
What type of monomers make proteins?
Amino acids.
What functional groups are in amino acids?
An amine group (–NH2) and a carboxylic acid group (–COOH).
What are nucleotides?
The four different monomers that make up DNA chains.
Why are alkenes more reactive than alkanes?
as one the double (C=C) bonds is very weak and breaks easily to react, whereas alkanes only have one strong bond.
What have you got to remember when drawing a polymer structure?
- the square brackets
- the extending bonds over the brackets
- small ‘n’ in bottom right corner.
what are the steps of drawing the condensation polymer formed from the reaction of a diol with a dicarboxylic acid.
1) remove the H and OH from the two nearest functional groups and connect the ‘freed up’ bonds together.
2) Remove an H and an OH from the two outer ends and extend the freed up bonds.
3) add square brackets and add an ‘n’ to show the polymer chain continues indefinitely. Don’t forget to add the 2n molecules of water formed in the process.
what is the R group
the thing that changes in a molecule. e.g the thing that isnt the functional group (usually CH2).
