Chapter 11 Polymers (Triple Only) Flashcards
What are plastics?
Plastics are made of very large, covalently bonded molecules called polymers.
What are polymers made of?
Polymers are made of monomers.
What are monomers?
Monomers are small reactive molecules .
What types of hydrocarbons are used to make polymers and in what type of reaction?
Alkenes are the monomers used to make polymers through addition reactions.
Draw the reaction between ethene to make a polymer. Name the polymer produced.
Ethene monomers are used to make poly(ethene).
What does the ‘n’ in the notation mean?
The ‘n’ in the notation means ‘many’.
How are the bonds from the carbon atoms drawn in the polymer?
The bonds from the carbon atoms in the polymer extend outside the brackets.
Why is the reaction between ethene molecules to form poly(ethene) called an addition reaction?
The reaction between ethene molecules to form poly(ethene) is called an addition reaction because the double bond opens up and the molecules are joined together. The polymer has exactly the same atoms as the monomers.
Draw the reaction between propene monomers to make poly(propene).
Another example of an addition reaction to form a polymer is the addition of propene monomers to make poly(propene).
Aside from addition reactions, how else can polymers be formed?
(HIGHER ONLY)
As well as polymerisation by addition reactions, polymers can be formed through condensation reactions.
How is condensation polymerisation different from addition polymerisation?
(HIGHER ONLY)
Condensation polymerisation results in the formation of a polymer as well as a small molecule.
What is usually the small molecule formed in condensation polymerisation.
(HIGHER ONLY)
The small molecule formed from a condensation reaction is often water. This is where the name ‘condensation’ comes from.
Aside from the production of a small molecule in the reaction, how else are condensation polymerisation reactions different from addition polymerisation reactions?
(HIGHER ONLY)
In condensation reactions the polymer is usually made from 2 different monomers.
What are the monomers of the simplest condensation polymerisation reactions like?
(HIGHER ONLY)
The monomers in the simplest condensation reactions have 2 of the same functional groups.
What are polyesters formed from?
(HIGHER ONLY)
Polyesters are formed from the condensation polymerisation of a diol and a carboxylic acid.
Give the chemical formula of glucose.
The chemical formula of glucose is C6H12O6.
Give 2 examples of polysaccharides.
Glucose is the monomer used to make polysaccharides like starch and cellulose.
What are the monomers used to make proteins?
(HIGHER ONLY)
Proteins are polymers made from amino acids. Amino acids are the monomers.
Draw the structure of an amino acid. Label the groups on the ends of the molecule.
(HIGHER ONLY)
Amino acids have an acidic carboxylic acid end and a basic amino end.
What type of polymerisation forms proteins?
(HIGHER ONLY)
Proteins are formed by condensation polymerisation.
What are monomers of DNA? Draw one.
The monomers in DNA are called nucleotides.
Draw the structure of DNA. How do we describe DNA?
DNA is made up of 2 polymer strands twisted into a double helix.
Why do thermosoftening polymers melt when heated?
Thermosoftening polymers melt when heated because their intermolecular forces are relatively weak.
What happens to thermosetting polymers when heated?
If heated, thermosetting polymers will not melt but will char.
