3.3.12 Polymers - Chemistry Alevel

Types of condensation polymers - dicarboxylic acid + diol →

polyester

Types of condensation polymers - dicarboxylic acid + diamines →

polyamide

Types of condensation polymers - amino acid + amino acid →

polyamide

Polyesters - breaking down

In the presence of a strong acid or specific enzyme polyesters are hydrolysed as the C-O polar bond is broken.

They are biodegradable.

Terylene - type of polymer

Polyester

Terylene - reactants

Benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid & ethane-1,2-diol

Terylene - how much small molecule produced

2n H₂O

Polyamide - breaking down

They can be hydrolysed (Kevlar is difficult) with a strong cid or specific enzyme as the polar C-N bond is broken.

This means they are biodegradable.

Nylon-6,6 - type of polymer

Polyamide

Nylon-6,6 - reactants

Hexanedioic acid & hexane-1,6-diamine

Nylon-6,6 - how much small molecule produced

2n H₂O

Kevlar - type of polymer

Polyamide BUT DOES NOT BIODEGRADE

Kevlar - reactants

Benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid & benzene-1,4-diamine

Kevlar - how much small molecule produced

2n H₂O

Nylon-6 - type of polymer

Polyamide BUT MADE WITH TWO AMINO ACIDS

Nylon-6 - how much small molecule produced

n H₂O

How to identify repeat unit - condensation polymer

Break the C-O bond &/or the C-N bond

Polyalkenes - break down

They are chemically inert and so are non-biodegradable

Disposal in landfill - advantages

Easy/cheap/quick/good short term solution

Incineration (burning) - advantages

Use energy released to heat homes (public buildings)/less space than landfill

Recycling - advantages

Less waste/less natural resources used up (conserving resources)/provides jobs (sorting, transporting)

Disposal in landfill - disadvantages

Takes up space/introduce (attract) vermin/they fill up/visual pollution/land costs may increase

Incineration (burning) - disadvantages

Toxic gases can be released/CO₂ released which contributes to global warming/expensive (equipment & sorting)

Recycling - disadvantages

Not all materials can be recycled/sort materials/transport for materials/expensive