Polymers

Question 1

What is a condensation reaction?

Answer 1

Two different monomers are joined together with a condensation reaction.

Question 2

How are polyamides formed?

Answer 2

Reactions between dicarboxylic acid and diamines.

Question 3

What is the bond in a polyamide?

Answer 3

an amide link

Question 4

Draw the repeating unit for the formation of Nylon-6,6 from the reaction of hexanedioic acid and 1,6-diaminehexane.

Question 5

What are the properties of Nylon-6,6 and what are they used for?

Answer 5

It is strong and resistant to abrasion so it is used to make clothes: carpets and ropes.

Question 6

Draw the repeating unit for the formation of kevlar from the reaction of Benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and 1,4-diaminobenzene

Question 7

What are the properties of kevlar and what are they used for?

Answer 7

It is light and very strong so it is used for bulletproof vests and car tyres.

Question 8

What is an example of a polyamine?

Answer 8

a polypeptide chain.

Question 9

How are polyesters formed?

Answer 9

The formation of an ester link between a dicarboxylic acid and a diol and the removal of water.

Question 10

Draw the repeating unit for the formation of Terylene from the reaction of Benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and Ethane-1,2-diol.

Question 11

What are the properties of Terylene and what are they used for?

Answer 11

It is stable in both cold and hot temperatures so it is used for containers and plastic bottles.

Question 12

Why do polyamines and polymers have higher melting and boiling points compared to polyalkenes?

Answer 12

In polyamines, hydrogen bonds can form between the C-O groups and N-H group. In polyesters permanent dipole-dipole forces can form. These forces are stronger and need a lot more energy to break compared to the van der Waals forces in the polyesters.

Question 13

Why are polyalkenes very unreactive?

Answer 13

The bonds are non-polar meaning they can’t be attacked by nucleophiles.

Question 14

What is the disadvantage of polyalkenes being inert?

Answer 14

They are non-biodegradable.

Question 15

Why are polyamines biodegradable?

Answer 15

the bonds are polar meaning they can be attacked by nucleophiles like water and broken down

Question 16

What are the advantages of using landfills for waste disposal?

Answer 16

It is a relatively cheap and easy method of water disposal.

Question 17

What are the disadvantages of using landfills for waste disposal?

Answer 17

1. It takes up land
2. As the waste decomposes it releases methane which is a greenhouse gas.
3. Any toxic chemicals released when the waste decomposes can contaminate water supplies.

Question 18

What are the advantages of using incineration for waste disposal?

Answer 18

The heat produced can be used to generate electricity.

Question 19

What are the disadvantages of using incineration for waste disposal?

Answer 19

1. When some polymers are burned they release toxic gases like PVC releasing HCl when burned.
2. Releases carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect.

Question 20

What are the advantages of using recycling for waste disposal?

Answer 20

1. Less garbage ends up in landfills.
2. Produces less carbon dioxide compared to burning plastic.
3. It saves on raw materials like oil which is used to make the alkanes.

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of using recycling for waste disposal?

Answer 21

Collecting, sorting and processing the plastics takes time and is expensive.