Polymers

Question 1

Which of the following compounds can form a polymer without needing another reagent? For each one, give a reason why (not)

A. HOCH2CH2OH
B. HOOCCH2CH2COOH
C. HOCH2CH2COCl
D. ClCH2CH2COOH

Answer 1

A. Can’t because alcohols can’t react together on their own. They need carboxylic acid to form a polyester
B. Can’t because carboxylic acids can’t react together on their own. They need alcohol to form a polyester
C. Can because one end has an acyl chloride while the other has a -OH so those molecules can go head-to-tail and form esters
D. Can’t because its ends are carboxylic acid and chloroalkane which don’t react

Question 2

Which structure shows part of a peptide link in a protein?
A. -CO-O-C(- - -)-
B. -CO-NH-CO-
C. -CO-O-CO-
D. -CO-NH-

Answer 2

-CO-NH-