| Natural Polymers | Synthetic Polymers |
|---|---|
| Wool | Poly(ethene) |
| Natural Rubber | Nylon |
| Silk | Terylene |
| Starch | Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) |
Example
Wool, Silk, Nylon, Terylene → commonly used to make clothing Natural rubber is used to make tyres and other objects that require high strength and flexibility. PVC → easily shaped + widely used as parts of machines, vehicles, and household appliances.
Polymers → large organic molecules → containing 1000s / millions of atoms
- they are formed → when many small molecules join together
- these small molecules are called monomers → different polymers are made up of different monomers. → they can also contain different linkages.
Definition
A polymer is a very large organic molecule built up from many small units called monomers covalently bonded together #ChemistryDefinitions
Process of joining together large no. of monomers → to form polymer → is called Polymerisation
- monomers in a polymer are joined together by covalent bonds
2 types of polymerisation
- addition polymerisation
- condensation polymerisation
Formation and Use of Addition Polymers
Formation and Use of Addition Polymers
Formation and Use of Condensation Polymers
Formation and Use of Condensation Polymers
| Differences | Addition Polymerisation | Condensation Polymerisation |
|---|---|---|
| Functional group(s) in monomers which are involved in polymerisation | carbon-carbon double bond | - carboxyl group - hydroxyl group - amino group |
| Products of reaction | 1 molecule of addition polymer | 1 molecule of condensation polymer and many small molecules such as water and hydrogen chloride (depending on type of monomers used for reaction) |
| empirical formula of monomers and polymers | same | different |
| how repeat units are joined together in the structure of polymer | adjacent repeat units are joined to each other by carbon carbon single bonds | - polyamide: amide linkage - polyester: ester linkage |
Note
polymers do not have sharp/ fixed melting point because long chain polymer molecules do not have fixed length as number of monomers joined together is not fixed.
Env Impact of Disposal of Plastics
Env Impact of Disposal of Plastics
Recycling and Issues Related to Recycling Plastics
Recycling and Issues Related to Recycling Plastics
Important
if polymer contains only hydrogen and carbon atoms, it is likely addition polymer