Polymers and Pharmaceuticals

Flashcards about Polymers and Pharmaceuticals

Plastic Diversity

There are approximately 600 types of plastic and 4500 mixtures of many kinds.

Examples of synthetic polymers

Nylon, polyethylene, polyester, Teflon, and epoxy.

Examples of naturally occurring polymers

Silk, wool, DNA, cellulose and proteins.

Fossil fuels

Oil, gas, coal.

Fossil fuels are made of

Hydrocarbons (mainly alkanes).

Fractional Distillation

Heating oil and passing it into a fractionating column, where components are separated according to their boiling points.

Petroleum

A mixture of hydrocarbons with covalent bonds between carbon and hydrogen.

Covalent bonding

The sharing of pairs of electrons between nonmetal atoms such as hydrogen and oxygen.

Organic chemistry

The study of compounds based on carbon, which can exist as simple hydrocarbons or combined with other elements.

Hydrocarbons

Substances containing only hydrogen and carbon.

Naming straight chain hydrocarbons

Alkane: all C-C bonds are single; Alkene: one C-C bond is a double; Alkyne: one C-C bond is a triple.

Alkanes

No double bonds; saturated.

Alkenes

A double bond between C atoms; unsaturated.

Functional groups

An atom or group of atoms that influence the properties of compounds.

Examples of Functional Groups

Hydroxy (-OH), carboxy (-COOH), chloro/fluoro/bromo/iodo (-Cl, -F, -Br, -I), amino (-NH2).

Alcohols

Organic molecules containing hydroxyl groups.

Carboxylic acids

Organic molecules containing carboxyl groups; also known as organic acids.

Amines

Organic molecules containing amino groups; they are weak bases.

How to get Alkenes

Breaking of Long Chain Alkanes.

Testing for alkenes

Bromine attacks the double bond, causing its signature brown color to fade.

Combustion of Alkanes

Alkanes burn in O2 releasing energy and producing CO2 and H2O.

Polymer

A molecule made by linking a large number of small molecules (monomer).

Addition polymers

Monomers join to make polymers with the removal of a water molecule.

Polymerisation

Joining monomers to create dimers, trimers, etc.

Monomer properties vs. Polymer properties

Smaller molecule, low boiling point, reactive; larger molecule, high boiling point, unreactive.

Degree of Branching in Polymers

The degree of branching affects the polymer's density, strength, and flexibility.

Extensive Cross-linking

Giant covalent network lattice, thermosetting, rigid and hard.

Occasional Cross-linking

Called elastomers, regain their shape after stretching.

Thermoplastic Polymers

Can be reheated and reshaped; bonds between polymer chains are weak and have low strength.

Thermosetting Polymers

Decompose rather than melt when heated; strong cross-links between polymer chains.

Recycling polymers

Mechanical recycling often leads to a decrease in molecular weight and crystallinity, while chemical recycling can break down polymers into their monomers.

Natural polymers

Large molecules formed by nature from repeating units (monomers).

Plastics from natural polymers (Bioplastics)

Materials derived from renewable resources like plants and microorganisms.

Harnessing natural polymers

Natural polymers, also known as bioplastics, are materials derived from renewable resources like plants and microorganisms, rather than fossil fuels

Casein

Milk plastic that could be hardened and dyed, used for buttons, knitting needles, etc.

Condensation reactions

A chemical reaction where a carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol to form an ester and water.

Condensation reactions by product

Condensation is a chemical reaction where a carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol to form an ester and water. It's a condensation reaction because water is a byproduct.

Polyesters

A condensation polymer formed when a dicarboxylic acid reacts with a diol.

Pharmaceuticals

Substances used to diagnose, treat, or prevent diseases, or to restore, correct, or modify organic functions.

Industrial Production of Pharmaceuticals

Using crude oil to create a world of products through condensation and polymerization reactions.

Aspirin's components

Salicylic acid + Acetic anhydride yields Acetyl salicylic acid (Aspirin) + Acetic acid.

Chiral molecule

A molecule that is not superimposable on its mirror image; contains at least one chiral carbon atom.

Thalidomide

A chiral drug that caused birth defects due to the presence of the (S)-enantiomer.