Condensation Polymers

what forms a polyester and water

Molecules containing alcohol  and carboxylic acid groups react

what form a polyamide and water molecules

Molecules containing amine and carboxylic acid groups react

molecules contain amine/alcohol and acyl chloride groups can react to form

a polymer and HCl molecules. 

If you’re shown a polyester and are asked to identify its monomers:Break all ester links

1. Break all ester links

2. Add HH to all the C-O groups created by step 1

3. Add OHOH to all the C(=O)- groups created by step 1 (or ClCl if you’re told that the monomer(s) include acyl chloride groups)

If you’re shown a polyamide and are asked to identify its monomers:

1. Break all amide links

2. Add H to all the N groups created by step 1

3. Add OH to all the C(=O)- groups created by step 1(or Cl if you’re told that the monomer(s) include acyl chloride groups)

Polyamides are held together by strong: 

• Van der Waals forces

• Permanent dipole-dipole forces

• Hydrogen bonds

Polyesters are held together by strong: 

• Van der Waals forces

• Permanent dipole-dipole forces

 

Terylene use

ship sails

Nylon 6,6 use

parachutes

Kevlars use

bulletproof vests

strucutre of Kevlar , Nylon 6,6 ,Terelyne

Ways to dispose of plastics

1. Store them in landfill

2. Burn them to generate electricity

3. Recycle them

 

Advantages of recycling: 

 

1. It reduces the need for landfill sites

2. It reduces the production of the harmful chemicals released when plastics burn or decompose in landfill

3. It reduces our reliance on non-renewable resources

4. It’s cheaper than making new plastics

Disadvantages of recycling:

1. It’s an expensive and difficult to do

2. You can’t make some plastics using recycled materials

3. The plastic you’re recycling can easily get contaminated

4. Some plastics aren’t recyclable

 

what is Biodegradable plastics

Biodegradable plastics can be broken down by living things into naturally occurring molecules within six months.

 

why are Many condensation polymers are biodegradable

because they contain a polar C=O bond, which means their chains can be attacked and broken down by nucleophiles like water and OH–

why are Most addition polymers aren’t biodegradable.

because their chains are made of strong, nonpolar C-C bonds, which cannot be attacked and broken by nucleophiles.