Polymers Flashcards
What are addition polymers made from?
Alkenes.
Give three types of condensation polymer.
Polyamides, polyesters and polypeptides (proteins).
What is lost in condensation polymerisation?
Water.
What are the two monomers that form polyamides?
Dicarboxylic acids and diamines.
What are the two monomers that form polyesters?
Dicarboxylic acids and diols.
What are the two monomers that form nylon 6,6?
1,6-diaminohexane and hexanedioc acid.
What are the monomers that form polypeptides?
Amino acids.
What are the two monomers that form KEVLAR?
Benzene-1,4-diamine and benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid.
What are the two monomers that form Terylene (PET)?
Benzene-1,4dicarboxylic acid and ethane-1.2-diol.
Why are addition polymers not environmentally friendly?
They are chemically inert, so therefore are not biodegradable.
Why are condensation polymers deemed environmentally friendly?
They can be broken down by hydrolysis and are therefore biodegradable.
Give the advantages and disadvantages of burying waste plastics.
Advantages: Cheap, easy.
Disadvantages: Requires land which we are running out of, releases methane during decomposition, can contaminate water supplies.
When do we tend to bury waste plastic?
When the plastics are too difficult or too expensive to separate from other waste, or when it is technically too difficult to recycle it.
Give advantages and disadvantages of burning waste plastics.
Advantages: The heat produced can be used to generate electricity.
Disadvantages: Has to be carefully controlled so as not to release toxic gases (HCl), waste gases contribute to greenhouse effect.
Give advantages and disadvantages of recycling waste plastics.
Advantages: Can be melted and remoulded, or cracked into monomers and used to make plastics or other chemicals.
Disadvantages: Can be costly in sorting and transporting.
