Summary Polymers Notes - AQA Chemistry A Level

Polymers
 Polymer – a large molecule made from joining together many shorter molecules
 Monomer – a small molecule that can join to other molecules to form a polymer

Addition Polymers
 Long chain molecules made from joining together many shorter molecules (monomers) to form
a long chain molecule with nothing else produced
 Monomers – alkenes, molecules with C=C bonds
 Examples – poly(ethene), PVC, poly(propene)
 Non-biodegradable due to the absence of polar bonds in the main chain (all bonds are C–C)
 Monomer




 Structure




 Repeating unit




Condensation Polymers
 Long chain molecules made from joining together many shorter molecules (monomers) together
to form a long chain molecule, with one small molecule also formed (e.g. water)
 Monomers – dicarboxylic acids with diols, dicarboxylic acids with diamines, amino acids
 Examples – polyesters (terylene), polyamides (nylon, Kevlar)
 Biodegradable due to the presence of polar C–N or C–O bonds in the main chain