Flashcards · 7405 · A Level Topic 30

Polymers (A Level) flashcards

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Condensation polymerisation: Monomers with two functional groups join, losing a small molecule (usually H₂O) at each link.
Monomers of Terylene: Benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and ethane-1,2-diol. It is a polyester.
Monomers of nylon 6,6 and of Kevlar: Nylon 6,6: hexanedioic acid and hexane-1,6-diamine. Kevlar: benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and benzene-1,4-diamine.
Forces between polymer chains: polyester vs polyamide: Polyester: van der Waals and permanent dipole–dipole (no H on N or O). Polyamide: van der Waals and hydrogen bonds between N–H on one chain and the C=O oxygen of another.
Why are polyesters and polyamides biodegradable but polyalkenes not?: The ester and amide links have a polar C=O with a δ+ carbon that nucleophiles (H₂O, OH⁻) attack, so they can be hydrolysed. Polyalkenes have only non-polar C–C and C–H bonds and are inert.
Mr of the repeating unit of nylon 6,6 (monomer Mr values 146.0 and 116.0): 146.0 + 116.0 − 2 × 18.0 = 226.0
One advantage and one disadvantage of incinerating waste polymers: Advantage: less volume, and the energy can generate electricity. Disadvantage: CO₂ is released, and PVC gives toxic HCl that must be removed.
Products of acid hydrolysis of a polyamide: The dicarboxylic acid and the ammonium salt of the diamine (not the free amine).