Polymer 1: Introduction to Polymers

Question 1

Give 5 polymers used in nature?

Answer 1

1. Cellulose- tablet production
2. Alginates-
3. Dextran- temporary blood substitute
4. Chitosan
5. Gelatin- tablet production,

Question 2

What are the three main roles of polymers in pharmacy

Answer 2

1. Drug delivery and formulation
   - Tableting
   - Solubilisers
   - Coatings
   - Gels
   - Emulsifiers and stabilisers
2. Devices
   - Inhalers (nasal and pulmonary)
   - Injectors/syringes
3. Packaging
   - Barrier to prevent moisture
   - Recyclable materials

Question 3

What are the two different aggregate states a polymer can be in?

Answer 3

1. Liquid

2. Solid

Question 4

Whats the difference between the dissolution of KCl and carboxymethylcellulose tablet?

Answer 4

1. KCl after 5 minutes dissolves easily in solvent

2. Carboxymethylcellulose swells up and turns into a gel after 35 minutes

Question 5

What is the solution viscosity like in a polymer?

Answer 5

1. Low molecular weight compound is free flowing

2. Polymer is more viscous even though the concentration might be the same

Question 6

What are the mechanical properties of polymers?

Answer 6

1. Can usually be stretched and then it can return back to it’s normal form
2. Reversible deformations

Question 7

Define what a monomer is?

Answer 7

The single molecules that make up a polymer

Question 8

Define what a polymer is?

Answer 8

Made up of many repeating unit monomers

Question 9

Define what a oligomer is?

Answer 9

When a molecule has many small molecules but it’s not a polymer yet

Question 10

How do you form a polymer from a oligomer?

Answer 10

Continue adding many repeating units to the oligomer until it becomes a polymer which is seen to have the same melting point

Question 11

In this molecule -[CH2-CH-CH3]n- define what each bit means?

Answer 11

1. • signify the end group of the molecule
2. CH2-CH-CH3 represents the repeating unit
3. n= degree of polymerisation

Question 12

What are molecular weight?

Answer 12

Molecular weight (Polymer) = Molecular Weight (Repeating unit) x Degree of Polymerisation

Question 13

Define what configuration (molecular architecture)?

Answer 13

1. The order that is determined by chemical bonds

2. The configuration of polymer cannot be altered unless chemical bonds are broken and reformed

Question 14

Define what a homopolymer is?

Answer 14

The only one type of monomer is used to build a macromolecular product

Question 15

Give examples of natural polymers?

Answer 15

1. Proteins
2. Polynucleotides
3. Polysaccharides

Question 16

Give examples of synthetic polymers?

Answer 16

1. Thermoplastic

2. Thermosetting