Polymers Flashcards

1
Q

What is an addition polymer?

A

Made from monomers with C=C bonds which break to connect the monomers

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2
Q

What is a condensation polymer?

A

Made out of chains of monomers but the monomers have different functional groups which can react and reject a species (usually water)

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3
Q

What is a polyester?

A

Type of condensation polymer formed from a dicarboxylic acid and a diol

Same reaction that occurs in esterification

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4
Q

What are the uses of some polyesters?

A

Fabrics
Clothing
Plastic bottles

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5
Q

What are polyamides?

A

Condensation polymer made from a dicarboxylic acid and diamines

Same condensation reaction occurs to make amides

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6
Q

What is an amide functional group?

A

H-N-C=O

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7
Q

What is the structure of nylon and what are its uses?

A

[ -NH-(CH2)6-NHCO-(CH2)4-C=O-]

Fabrics used in textiles

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8
Q

What is the structure of Kevlar and what are it’s uses?

A

[-NH-aromatic-NHCO-aromatic-C=O-]

Used for bullet and stab proof vests

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9
Q

Why are polyamides so strong?

A

Due to their ability to form hydrogen bonds

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10
Q

Why is Kevlar so strong?

A

Kevlar strength is due to the rigid chains and their ability of the flat aromatic rings to pack together held by strong intermolecular forces (hydrogen bonds)

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11
Q

What are polypeptides?

A

Condensation polymer made from amino acids as their monomers.

Amino acids have a carboxyl group and an amine group and can act as a monomer with themselves to form a polypeptide

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12
Q

What happens during the acid hydrolysis of nylon?

A

Fast reaction
H+ / H2O

Amino acts as a base and accepts a proton forming a diammonium

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13
Q

What happens during the alkali hydrolysis of nylon?

A

Slow reaction
NaOH / H2O. (Heated)

Forms a diamine and a carboxylate salt

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14
Q

What happens during the acid hydrolysis of polyesters?

A

Slow reaction
Strong aqueous acid

Forms a dicarboxylic and a diol

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15
Q

What happens during the alkali hydrolysis of polyesters?

A

Fast reaction
NaOH / H2O

Forms a carboxylate salt and a diol

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16
Q

Why are addition polymers not biodegradable?

A

The non polar C=C bonds un reactive and therefore will not break down in the natural environment

They are sent to landfill sites or incinerated

17
Q

What are the issues with the disposal of addition polymers?

A

Landfill:
Damage to wildlife
Make leak toxic chemicals into the environment

Incineration:
Burning polyalkenes increases CO2 emissions and therefore contributes to global warming.
Incomplete combustion leads to toxic CO or soot
Other toxic chemicals may be released

18
Q

How are condensation polymers disposed of?

A

Undergo hydrolysis
Hey contain polar C=O bonds which are susceptible to attack via nucleophiles

Polyesters and polyamides are potentially biodegradable

19
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of recycling or remoulding polymers?

A

All polymers can potentially be recycled and melted to be remoulded

Advantages:
Saves diminishing crude oil reserves
Energy input to oil refining not needed
Plastic doesn’t end up in landfill

Disadvantages:
Plastics must be collected sorted and transported which is expensive and requires energy