Unit 3.4.9 - Polymers Flashcards
What are the two types of polymers?
Addition and condensation
What are addition polymers?
Long chains of monomers formed by breaking double bonds in alkenes and then joining them all together
What is a repeating unit?
The section in a polymer that repeats
What is the difference between the repeating unit and the monomer that makes up a polymer in an addition polymer?
The repeating unit is the monomer without the double bond
What are condensation polymers?
Long chains of monomers that contain at least two functional groups, a molecule of H₂O is released when each monomer is joined
Name three common types of condemnation polymers.
Polyamides, polyesters and polypeptides
What monomers are polyamides made from?
Dicarboxylic acids and diamines
What sort of links are there in polyamides?
Amide links
Name two polyamides.
Nylon 6,6 and Kevlar
What two monomers make up Nylon 6,6?
1,6 diaminohexane and hexanedioic acid
What two monomer make up Kevlar?
benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and benzene-1,4-diamine
What monomers are polyesters made from?
Dicarboxylic acid and Diol
What sort of links are there in polyesters?
Ester links
Name one polyester.
Terylene
What two monomers make up Terylene?
1,4-dicarboxylic acid and ethane-1,2-diol
Why are synthetic polymers widespread?
Because they have lots of advantages
Are condensation polymers or addition polymers very unreactive?
Addition
Why are addition polymers unreactive?
Because the bonds between the repeating units are non-polar so they aren’t susceptible to attack by nuclophiles
Why is it an advantage that addition polymers are unreactive?
They won’t react with what ever they are used for it
What is a disadvantages of addition polymers?
They are non-biodegradable as the bonds in the polymers can’t be hydrolysed and won’t break down easily
Why can condensation polymers be broken down by hydrolysis?
The bonds between the repeating units are polar and so are susceptible to attack by nucleophiles like water
What is an advantage of condensation polymers?
They are bio-degradable and easily broken down
What are the four options four what to do with waste plastics?
Burying, burning, sorting for reusing or sorting for recycling
What does burying waste plastics involve?
Taking them to landfill




