Chapter 29 - Condensation Polymers

Question 1

Which three reactions do you need to know which form condensation polymers?

Answer 1

Dicarboxylic acids and diols - form polyesters
Dicarboxylic acids and diamines - form polyamides
Amino acids - form polypeptides

Question 2

What is an example of a polyester? How is it used?

Answer 2

Terylene - typically used in fabrics

Question 3

Give 2 examples of polyamides and their typical uses

Answer 3

nylon 6,6 and kevlar. Kevlar is very often used in bulletproof and stabproof clothing, and nylon 6,6 is usually used in plastics and some fabrics

Question 4

Can polyalkenes be broken down?

Answer 4

No, they are chemically inert meaning they are non-biodegradable, which makes them last a long time however. They can’t be broken down because they are chemically indentical to a massive alkane chain, which only contains strong non-polar C - C and C - H bonds, which can’t really be broken by anything

Question 5

Can polyamides and polyesters be broken down?

Answer 5

Yes, they can both be biodegraded by hydrolysis, so they can be recycled or reused