35.1 A2 Level

Condensation polymerisation

8 flashcards to master this topic

Key Concept Flip

Describe the formation of a polyester from a diol and a dicarboxylic acid, including the type of reaction and any byproducts.

Answer Flip

A diol and a dicarboxylic acid react via condensation polymerisation to form a polyester. A water molecule is eliminated for each ester linkage formed, meaning water is a byproduct.

Key Concept Flip

Draw the repeat unit of the polyester formed from ethane-1,2-diol and butanedioic acid.

Answer Flip

The repeat unit is: [-O-CH₂-CH₂-O-CO-CH₂-CH₂-CO-]. Water is eliminated from the -OH groups of the diol and -COOH groups of the dicarboxylic acid.

Definition Flip

What type of reaction is used to form a polyamide from a diamine and a dioyl chloride?

Answer Flip

The reaction is a condensation polymerisation. Specifically, it's an acylation reaction that forms amide linkages with the elimination of HCl as a byproduct.

Key Concept Flip

Draw the repeat unit formed from the condensation polymerisation of 6-aminohexanoic acid.

Answer Flip

The repeat unit is [-NH-(CH₂)₅-CO-]. Water is eliminated between the amine and carboxylic acid groups of adjacent monomers.

Key Concept Flip

Identify the monomers that form the condensation polymer with the repeat unit [-NH-CH(CH₃)-CO-NH-CH₂-CO-].

Answer Flip

The monomers are alanine (NH₂-CH(CH₃)-COOH) and glycine (NH₂-CH₂-COOH).

Definition Flip

What is the byproduct when a polyester is formed from a diol and a dioyl chloride?

Answer Flip

Hydrogen chloride (HCl) is produced as the byproduct, not water.

Key Concept Flip

How does the formation of a polyamide differ from that of an addition polymer?

Answer Flip

Polyamides are formed via condensation polymerisation, where small molecules (

Example: water, HCl) are eliminated. Addition polymers involve the joining of monomers without loss of any atoms.
Key Concept Flip

Describe the formation of a polyester from a hydroxycarboxylic acid.

Answer Flip

A hydroxycarboxylic acid undergoes self-esterification via condensation polymerisation, with water being eliminated between the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of adjacent monomers.

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34.4 Amino acids 35.2 Predicting the type of polymerisation