polyesters + polyamides

Question 1

monomer definition

Answer 1

a small molecule which combines with many other monomers to form a large molecule called a polymer

Question 2

polymer definition

Answer 2

a large molecule formed from many monomer subunits

Question 3

condensation polymerisation definition

Answer 3

the joining together of monomers with the elimination of a small molecule such as H2O or HCl to form a polymer

Question 4

name 2 types of condensation polymers

Answer 4

polyesters
polyamides

Question 5

how can polyesters be formed + what is an ester bond

Answer 5

ester bond = -O-CO-

polyesters can be formed by reacting a diol monomer + dicarboxylic acid/diacyl chloride monomer, or one monomer containing both hydroxyl and carboxyl/acyl chloride groups

Question 6

how can polyamides be formed + what is an amide bond

Answer 6

amide bond = -HN-CO-

polyamides can be formed by reacting a diamine monomer + dicarboxylic acid/diacyl chloride monomer, or 1 monomer containing both amine and carboxylic acid/acyl chloride groups

Question 7

how are condensation polymers broken down

Answer 7

they can be broken down either by acid hydrolysis or alkali hydrolysis

Question 8

give the products of each type of hydrolysis of polyamides

Answer 8

acid hydrolysis - produces carboxylic acid + ammonium ion groups

alkali hydrolysis - produces carboxylate salt + amine groups

Question 9

give the products of each type of hydrolysis of polyesters

Answer 9

acid hydrolysis - produces carboxylic acid + alcohol groups

alkali hydrolysis - produces carboxylate salt + alcohol groups

Question 10

outline the difference between addition polymers and condensation polymers

Answer 10

both are large molecules formed from many monomer subunits

addition polymers are usually formed from just 1 type of monomer, containing a double bond which is broken to produce the polymer, they are formed in addition reactions with no byproducts

condensation polymers are formed in condensation reactions where a small molecule such as H2O is eliminated from the monomer/monomers to allow the polymer to form, these reactions therefore have a byproduct