11.8 Polymers
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58. Define polymers.
Large, high relative molecular mass molecules built up from many smaller repeating structural units called monomers.
59. What is poly(ethene) an example of?
An addition polymer constructed via addition polymerisation using ethene (CH2=CH2) monomers.
60. What are plastics made from?
Synthetic polymer chains.
61. List the environmental challenges caused by plastics as stated in the syllabus.
Persistent accumulation in landfill sites, ecological damage in marine environments, and the release of toxic gaseous emissions upon combustion.
62. What specific structures must you be able to identify in addition and condensation polymers?
The specific repeating units and the dynamic connective links (ester or amide linkages).
63. Name the two types of condensation polymers mentioned for which you must deduce structures.
Polyamides and polyesters.
64. What monomers form a polyamide?
A dicarboxylic acid reacting alongside a diamine monomer.
65. What monomers form a polyester?
A dicarboxylic acid reacting alongside a diol monomer.
66. Describe the difference between addition and condensation polymerisation.
Addition polymerisation involves unsaturated monomers linking up to form a single product with no loss of atoms. Condensation polymerisation involves bifunctional monomers connecting with the structural elimination of a small alternative molecule like water (H2O).
67. What type of polymer is nylon?
A structural polyamide.
68. What type of polymer is PET?
A structural polyester.
69. What can be done with PET once it has been used?
It can be chemically broken down back into its constituent raw monomers and re-polymerised.
70. Describe proteins as polymers.
They are naturally occurring polyamides generated via condensation pathways from varied amino acid building blocks.
71. What is the general structure of the monomers that form proteins?
Amino acids containing an amino functional group and a carboxylic acid group centered on a carbon atom: H2N-CH(R)-COOH