Polymers of Life 1 + 2: Polyesters & Polyamides

Question 1

Definition of condensation polymerisation

Answer 1

Reaction wear many small molecules ( monomers ) joined together to make a long chain molecules with a small molecule ( often water ) formed

Question 2

Give some examples of natural polymers that are condensation polymers

Answer 2

• silk
• starch
• DNA

Question 3

Name the two main types of condensation polymers

Answer 3

1. Polyester

2. Polyamides

Question 4

How are polyesters formed

Answer 4

When dicarboxylic acids react with diols ( 2 alcohols groups in same molecule )

( esters = carboxylic acid + alcohol)

Question 5

Look at sheet on how to draw a condensation polymerisation equation

Answer 5

Look at sheet

= remove OH from carboxylic acid and H from an alcohol to make polymer structure

Question 6

Why can you hydrolyse polyesters

Answer 6

Because they are made of ester linkages

= Ester linkage ( which is polar ) is broken

Question 7

Definition of hydrolysed

Answer 7

Break apart in the presence of a strong acid or specific enzyme

= reversible reaction

Question 8

Are polyesters biodegradable and why

Answer 8

Yes

Because they can be hydrolysed = ester linkage ( polar bond ) is broken ( in the presence of a strong acid or a specific enzyme ) into their constituent acid and alcohol = biodegradable

Question 9

How are Polyamides formed

Answer 9

Reaction between dicarboxylic acids and diamines

amides = carboxylic acids + amines

Question 10

Are Polyamides biodegradable

Answer 10

Yes

Because they can be hydrolysed = amide linkage ( polar bond ) is broken ( in the presence of a strong acid or a specific enzyme ) into their constituent acid and alcohol = biodegradable

Question 11

Look at sheet to learn how do Polyamide formation equations

Answer 11

Look at sheet

= remove OH from carboxylic acid and H from amine

Question 12

Describe what addition polymers are and how they are formed

Answer 12

Long chain molecules made from joining together many shorter molecules ( monomers ) together to form a long chain molecules with nothing else produced

Question 13

Describe what condensation polymers are and how they are formed

Answer 13

Long chain molecules made from joining together many shorter molecules (monomers) together to form a long chain molecules with one small molecule also formed ( eg. water)

Question 14

What monomers form addition polymers

Answer 14

• alkenes

- molecules with C=C bonds

Question 15

What monomers for condensation polymers

Answer 15

• dicarboxylic acids + diols
• dicarboxylic acids + diamines
• amino acids

Question 16

Give three examples of addition polymers

Answer 16

1. Poly( ethene )
2. PVC
3. poly ( propene )

Question 17

Give two examples of condensation polymers

Answer 17

1. polyesters ( eg. terylene )

2. polyamides ( eg. nylon, Kevlar )

Question 18

Describe the biodegradeability of addition polymers

Answer 18

Non-biodegradable due to absence of polar bonds in the main chain all bonds are C-C

Question 19

Describe the biodegradability of condensation polymers

Answer 19

Biodegradable due to the presence of polar C-N or C-O bonds in main chain

Question 20

What kind of condensation polymer is nylon

Answer 20

Polyamide

Question 21

What two molecules is nylon-

6,6 formed from

Answer 21

1. 1,6-diaminohexane
2. 1,6- hexane dioic acid

( hexane-1,6-dioic acid )

= nylon- 6, 6

Question 22

Look at sheet on how to do condensation polymerisation equation for nylon and different numbered nylons

Answer 22

Look at sheet

Question 23

What would nylon-5, 10 be made from

Answer 23

1. 1,5-diaminopentane
2. 1,10- decane dioic acid

( decane-1,10-dioic acid )

Question 24

What two molecules are used to make the polyester PET ( terylene )

Answer 24

1. ethene- 1,2- diol

2. Benzene- 1,4 - dicarboxylic acid