Polymers Flashcards
What are polymers made up of?
Many small molecules joined together, called monomers.
What is addition polymerisation?
Where thousands of alkene molecules are joined together to form an addition polymer. The double bonds between two carbon atoms become single bonds.
Why can we make polymers from alkenes but not from alkanes?
Because alkenes are reactive, unsaturated and have a double bond, whereas alkanes are unreactive, saturated and have a single bond.
What is condensation polymerisation? How does it compare to addition polymerisation?
Using condensation to form polymers, giving two products instead of one (in addition polymerisation): the condensation polymer + a small molecule. There are often two different monomers used as opposed to one in addition polymerisation.
What is a polyester made from?
A diol (an alcohol containing two OH groups) and a dicarboxylic acid (a carboxylic containing two COOH groups). The monomers link together and polymerise by ‘ester links’.
Name a natural polymer which uses glucose.
Polysaccharides.
How are proteins (natural polymers) made?
Through condensation polymerisation, using amino acids (monomers).
What is the general name of the monomers used to make DNA?
Nucleotides.
How many nucleotides are there? What do they consist of?
There are four different nucleotides, consisting of amino acids attached to a sugar called deoxyribose and a phosphate group. They join by covalent bonds between the sugar and phosphate of each nucleotide.
How would one draw a polymer made through addition?
The same molecule as before, but it has a single bond between carbons and it is in brackets with a n on the outside.
What happens with polysaccharides?
Glucose monomers —> starch + water
Glucose monomers —>
Cellulose + water
