Condensation Polymerisation Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the concepts, specific examples (Nylon, Kevlar, Terylene), and environmental impacts of condensation polymers based on the provided lecture transcript.

Condensation reaction

A reaction where two molecules react together and a small molecule, often water ($H_{2}O$) or hydrogen chloride ($HCl$), is eliminated.

Condensation polymer

A long-chain polymer normally made from two different monomers, each having two functional groups, formed through condensation reactions.

Ester linkage

The recurring chemical bond represented as $-COO-$ found in polyesters.

Polyester

A type of condensation polymer formed by the reaction of diols (two $-OH$ groups) and dicarboxylic acids (two $-COOH$ groups).

Terylene

A specific polyester made from benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and ethane-1,2-diol.

Amide linkage

The recurring chemical bond represented as $-CONH-$ found in polyamides; also known as a peptide link in proteins.

Polyamide

A condensation polymer formed from a diaminoalkane (two amine groups) and a dicarboxylic acid (two carboxylic acid groups).

Nylon-6,6

An industrial polyamide made from 1,6-diaminohexane and hexane-1,6-dicarboxylic acid.

Kevlar

A strong polyamide made from benzene-1,4-diamine and benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid, used in bullet proof vests.

Polypeptides

Polyamides made from amino acid monomers, where each monomer contains both an amine group and a carboxylic acid group.

Repeating unit

The shortest section of a polymer chain that, when repeated, makes up the whole polymer.

Hydrolysis

The chemical breakdown of a compound, such as a polyester or polyamide, due to reaction with water; the reverse of the polymerisation reaction.

Biodegradability

The ability of a substance to be broken down naturally; condensation polymers are potentially biodegradable while polyalkenes are not.

Polyalkenes

Non-biodegradable addition polymers with long-chain alkane molecules involving strong, non-polar $C-H$ and $C-C$ bonds.

Hermann Staudinger

The chemist known as the father of polymer chemistry who received the 1953 Nobel Prize for his proof of the existence of macromolecules.

Isoprene

The monomer from which natural rubber is made.

Recycling degradation

The process where polymer chains break and shorten during melting and reforming, causing the properties of the plastic to degrade over time.