21 Polymers

What is a polymer

A polymer is a large organic molecule built up for many small units called monomers

What is a monomer

Monomers are individual organic molecules

What is polymerisation

Polymerisation is the process of joining together a large number of monomers to form a polymer

What is addition polymerisation

Addition polymerisation occurs when unsaturated monomers join together together without losing any molecules or atoms to form addition polymers.

What are the conditions for addition polymerisation.

High temperature, pressure and catalyst

What is polyethene used for

Plastic bags, plastic toys, buckets and cling wrapss

What is condensation polymerisation

Condensation polymerisation is when monomerd combine to form condensation polymers with the removal of small molecules

Describe polyester

Contains ester linkages, used to make clothing, curtain material, parachutes, sails, sleeping bags, tents and raincoats. Made from dicarboxyluc acid and diol.

How do the dicarboxylic acid and diol molecule react to form polyester

The C-O bonds of the dicarboxylic acid and O-H bonds of the diols are broken. The -OH from the carboxyl functional groups of thr dicarboxylic acids and -H from the alcohol groups of the diols react to form water molecules. The remaining groups of atoms of thr dicarboxylic acids and diols joing togethrr to form thr polymer.

Describe polyamide

Contains amide linkages, used to make fibres of strong ropes and fishing lines or woven into cloth. Made from dicarboxylic acid and diamine as monomers.

What are the differences between addition and condensation polymerisation

Addition contains C-C linkages while condensation contains ester and amide linkages. Addition has alkenes as monomers while condensation has dicarboxylic acids and diols or diamines as monomers. Addition polymers have the same empirical formula as its monomers while condensation does not. Addition polymers do not lose any atoms while condensation does.

What does non-biodegradable mean

It cannot be broken down into simpler substances by bacteria and other living organisms

What are the effects of disposal of plastics

Increasing amount of built up waste in landfills due to burying plastic waste. Endangering marine animals as turtles mistake it for food and choke on it. Clogging up rivers and drains creating mosquitoe breeding grounds. Releasing poisonous gased when incinerated such as PVc producing corrosive HCl gas.

What are the methods of recycling plastic

The physical method where they are melted, cooled, pulled into long thing strands and cut as pellets. Chemical method of cracking into short form alkanes and alkenes or depolymerisation to break it down into its monomers.

What are the conditions for the acid hydrolysis of polyester

Heat, water, acid catalyst

What are the conditions for the hydrolysis of polyamide

Heat, water, dilute acid or alkali