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Chemisty A level > Polymers > Flashcards

Polymers Flashcards

1
Q

What are the monomers of addition polymers?

A

alkenes

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2
Q

What are the 2 lines extending out of the square brackets called?

A

trailing bonds

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3
Q

What are the properties of poly(alkenes)?

A

saturated
non-polar
unreactive
do not degrade well in landfill

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4
Q

What are the 2 types of condensation polymers?

A

polyamides and polyesters

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5
Q

What is condensation polymerisation?

A

2 different monomers with at least 2 functional groups react together
when they react a link is made and water is eliminated

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6
Q

What monomers are polyamides produced from?

A

diamides and dicarboxylic acids

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7
Q

What are the monomers for producing polyesters?

A

a diol and a carboxylic acid

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8
Q

What links form in a polyamide?

A

amide links

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9
Q

Why do monomers in condensation polymerisation need 2 functional groups?

A

so they have functional grous either side of the molecule which allows chains of monomers to be formed by links

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10
Q

What link is formed in the production of polyesters?

A

ester links

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11
Q

What is produced when you hydrolyse a condensation polymer?

A

the original monomers

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12
Q

How many water molecules are produced per 1 condensation polymer produced?

A

n-1

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13
Q

What can happen if a monomer has a carboxylic group and a amine group?

A

it can react with itself to form an amide link = polymamide formed

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14
Q

What is the structure of a ester linkage?

A

O=C-O-
(another bond from C)

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15
Q

Why is it more efficient to use an acyl chloride condensation than using carboxylic acids in condensation polymerimerisation to produce polyesters and polyamides?

A

a higher yield and does not require a conc acid catalyst

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16
Q

What is the by product of condensation polymerisations using acyl chlorides?

A

HCl

17
Q

What is the structure of a amide linkage?

A

O=C-NH-

18
Q

What are the 2 ways a polyester can be formed?

A

carboxylic acid and alcohol
alcohol and acyl chloride

19
Q

what is the most important polyamide?

A

proteins

20
Q

What monomers are proteins made from?

A

alpha amino acid molecules

21
Q

What are the 2 ways polyamides can be formed?

A

a monomer with both an amine and carboxylic acid group
using 2 monomers = diamine and dicarboxylic acid

22
Q

What does it mean that polyesters and polyamides are chemically degradable?

A

they can undergo hydrolysis when heated under reflux with aq acid/ alkali to be broken down into their respective monomers

23
Q

What is added and produced to acid catalysed hydrolysis of a polyester?

A

added = h2o
produced = 2 monomers

24
Q

What is added and produced to base catalysed hydrolysis of a polyester?

A

added = OH-
produced = salt and diol

25
Q

What is added and produced to acid catalysed hydrolysis of a polyamide?

A

added = H2O and H+
produced = dicarboxylic acid and +NH3-R-NH3+

26
Q

What is added and produced to base catalysed hydrolysis of a polyamide?

A

added = OH-
produced = carboxylic acid salt + diamine

27
Q

What is an advantage of using addition and condensation polymers?

A

they are produced easily and cheaply from alkenes and petroleum

28
Q

what is an issue of addition and condensation polymers?

A

they are non-biodegradable = will remain in landfill for an extremely long time and can harm animals if accumulating in oceans

29
Q

How can sustainability of throwing away plastics be improved?

A

recycle
burn them and the heat released can be used to generate electricity
chemical feedstock = converted chemically into other useful products eg: alkenes

30
Q

What is the issue with burning chlorinated polymers?

A

HCL is produced and needs to be removed

31
Q

How can HCL be removed when burning chlorinated polymers?

A

neutralisation with aq alkali = NaOH

32
Q

What are biodegradable polymers?

A

can be broken down by microorganisms (enzyme-catalysed hydrolysis)

33
Q

What are photodegradable polymers?

A

broken down by UV light

Chemisty A level (31 decks)

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