Polymerisation Flashcards

Q. What is condensation polymerisation?  

Joining monomers to form a polymer with the release of a small molecule, such as water.  

Q. What monomers can be reacted together to form a polyester?  

- A monomer with two carboxylic acid groups and another with two alcohol groups.  

- Or, two monomers each containing both an alcohol and a carboxylic acid group.  

Q. What monomers can be reacted together to form a polyamide? 

- A monomer with two carboxylic acid groups and another with two amine groups.  

- Or, two monomers each containing both a carboxylic acid group and an amine group.  

Q. What is a repeat unit?  

A structure that appears many times in a polymer chain, made up of one or more monomers.  

Q. What are the differences between addition and condensation polymerisation?  

- Addition polymerisation: Monomers contain C=C double bonds; the polymer chain has only C–C single bonds; produces only the polymer.  

- Condensation polymerisation: Monomers contain functional groups like –OH, –COOH, –NH₂, or –COCl; the polymer chain includes oxygen or nitrogen atoms; produces polymer and a small molecule (e.g., water or HCl).  

Q. How do side chains affect polymer properties?  

Side chains prevent close packing of polymer chains, giving low density and weaker Van der Waals forces. Less energy is needed to overcome these forces, so melting and boiling points are lower.  

Q. What are the types of intermolecular forces (strongest to weakest)? 

- Hydrogen bonding  

- Permanent dipole–dipole interactions  

- Van der Waals forces  

Q. How do intermolecular forces affect Teflon (PTFE)?  

Teflon has weak Van der Waals forces but no side branches, allowing molecules to pack closely. This increases intermolecular contact, giving a high melting point.  

Q. Describe the primary, secondary, and tertiary structure of a protein.  

- Primary: Sequence of amino acids.  

- Secondary: Hydrogen bonding forms α‑helix or β‑sheet.  

- Tertiary: Final 3D shape, stabilised by interactions between R‑groups.  

Q. Why are poly(alkenes) difficult to biodegrade?  

They are chemically inert, so microorganisms cannot break them down easily.  

Q. What happens when certain polymers are exposed to light?  

Ultraviolet light breaks polymer chains, causing the material to crumble.  

Q. How can polyesters and polyamides be biodegraded?  

They undergo hydrolysis, breaking down into smaller molecules.