Condensation polymerisation & hydrolysis

Condensation polymerisation

• 1 molecule of water formed for every new bond

  • monomer + monomer → dimer + water (1 molecule)

  • monomer + monomer + monomer + monomer → polymer + water (3 molecules)

• number of monomers - 1 + number of water molecules formed

How to talk about polymerisation

• monomers included?

• type of reaction? ALWAYS condensation

• products? ALWAYS water + polymer

• bond type formed?

• (sometimes) enzyme responsible?

Hydrolysis

• Hydro (water) lysis (breaking)

• dimer + water → monomer + monomer (1 bond broken)

How to talk about hydrolysis

• reactants involved? polymer + water

• type of reaction? hydrolysis

• products? smaller polymer or monomers

• bond type broken?

• enzyme responsible?