Polymers

Question 1

What is condensation polymerisation

Answer 1

Involves monomers with 2 functional groups joining and small molecule being lost

Question 2

How are polyamides formed?

Answer 2

Dicarboxylic acid + diamines (amide link formed)

Question 3

Examples of polyamides? (learn how to form them)

Answer 3

• Nylon 66 (parachutes, carpet)

- Kevlar (light and strong)

Question 4

How are polyesters formed?

Answer 4

Dicarboxylic acid + diol (ester link formed)

Question 5

Example of polyesters? (learn how to form them)

Answer 5

• terylene (bottles, ready meal containers as its stable at hot and cold temps, clothes)

Question 6

Why are polyester/polyamides hydrolysed with acids or alkalis?

Answer 6

V slow with water?

Question 7

Why are condensation polymers biodegradable?

Answer 7

• have polar bonds so can be attacked by nucleophiles ( eg water in hydrolysis)

Question 8

Why aren’t polyalkenes biodegradable?

Answer 8

inert so cant be attack by nucleophiles

Question 9

Describe the bonding between condensation polymer chains?

Answer 9

VDWs, Permanent dipole dipole and H bonds ( stronger and more rigid than addition polymers)

Question 10

Advantages/disadvantages of burying waste plastic?

Answer 10

Good: 
- when plastic is hard to separate
- cheap and easy 
Bad:
- requires land
- can release methane
- Decomposing plastic can release toxins into water supplies

Question 11

Advantages/disadvantages of burning plastic?

Answer 11

Good:
- The heat can be used to produce electricity
Bad:
- it releases toxic gas 
- makes greenhouse gases

Question 12

Advantages/disadvantages of recycling?

Answer 12

Good:
- plastic can be melted and remoulded
- Plastic cracked into monomers and reused
- reduces landfill and the amount being burnt
Bad:
- plastic can be contaminated during recycling
- more expensive
- plastic might not be able to be reused