Topic 11 - Polymers Flashcards
What is a monomer?
A small molecule that, when polymerised, becomes part of a polymer.
What do Ethene monomers become when polymerised? What changes?
They become polyethene, and their double bond would be separated.
What is the type of polymerisation reaction that makes an alkene lose its double bond?
Addition polymerisation.
What is a polymer?
A long chain of small monomer molecules.
What is condensation polymerisation?
Where the monomer loses water as a byproduct of forming part of a polymer.
How is an ester formed?
An alcohol (with an OH functional group) reacts with a carboxylic acid (COOH) and give water as a byproduct.
How is a polyester formed?
You start with one alcohol on each end and one carboxylic acid on each end, forming a diol and a dicarboxylic acid. The monomers link together as they polymerise by “ester links” and a water molecule is given off as each link is made in the reaction.
What is the most commonly known monosaccharide?
Glucose.
What are the two equations for the polymerisation of glucose?
Glucose monomers –> Starch polymers + Water.
Glucose monomers –> Cellulose polymers + Water.
What is the equation for the polymerisation of amino acids?
Amino acids –> Polypeptide polymers + Water.
What are the four monomers in DNA?
Adenine, Guanine, Thymine, Cytosine.
What type of polymerisation reaction produces DNA?
Condensation polymerisation.
What three molecules make up DNA monomers?
A Phosphate group, a sugar and a base - these molecules are in a long chain.
What is the monomer for DNA?
Nucleotide.
What is the polymer for DNA?
DNA strand.
Why are there weak intermolecular forces between nucleotides?
So that they can be easily separated from the polymer for cell division and replication.
What is the polymer of ethene monomers?
Poly(ethene)
What is the polymer for propene monomers?
poly(propene)
What is addition polymerisation?
Where two alkene molecules are joined together, removing the double bond between carbon atoms and forming a bond between monomers.
What is the main difference between addition and condensation polymerisation?
Addition polymerisation only forms one product whereas condensation forms a product and water or HCl
How do you form a diol?
Add OH molecules onto the ends of CH chains.
What is the general formula for forming a polyester?
A diol + a dicarboxylic acid –> a polyester + water
How do you make a dicarboxylic acid?
Add COOH groups to each end of a chain of CH molecules
What is glucose classified as?
A monosaccharide
What do monosaccharide sugars form in a chain
polysaccharides
What is the equation for protein synthesis?
variety of amino acid monomers –> protein polymers + water
What is the full name for DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid
What is the equation for the polymerisation of nucleotides?
millions of nucleotides –> DNA + water
What is the structure of DNA like?
A double helix
