Condensation polymers

Question 1

condensation polymerisation

Answer 1

chemical reaction in which monomers join together to produce a polymer and a small molecule such as water

Question 2

type of condensation polymers

Answer 2

polyesters

Question 3

What do polyesters need to form?

Answer 3

formed from two types of monomers:

• a molecule with two -OH groups (alcohol)
• a molecule with two -COOH groups (carboxylic acid)

Question 4

forming an ester link

Answer 4

an ester link forms each time the two different monomers react together

• the -OH is removed from the right side of the alcohol
• the H- is removed from the left side of the carboxylic acid
• the two molecules join together and a -COO(C) group is created (the ester link)
• one molecule of water is formed

Question 5

features of condensation polymerisation

Answer 5

-two different monomers react together, forming a water molecule

• the other molecule has a carboxylic acid group and an alcohol group
• these groups can react with more monomers
• this process continues, producing a very long polyester molecule

Question 6

writing a condensation polymerisation equation

Answer 6

-when an ester forms a polymer, two water molecules are formed

• write out the two monomers with a + sign
• write an n at the left side of each
• circle both -OHs from both sides of the alcohol
• circle both outer -Hs from the carboxylic acid
• write out the main chain of the ester that is formed (without the circled atoms)
• draw square brackets around it
• draw bonds through each bracket
• draw an n after the bracket

-two water molecules are also formed, shown like this:
+ 2n H[2]O

Question 7

naming an ester

Answer 7

-the carboxylic acid name becomes -ate and loses the -oic
(propanoic acid -> propanoate)

-the alcohol name becomes -yl and loses the -anol
(butanol -> butyl)

-the alcohol name always comes first, and the acid name second
(butyl propanoate, methyl pentanoate)