key ideas key words
C11 Polymers
C11.1 - Addition Polymerisation
❖ Polymers long-chain molecules that are made from smaller molecules called
monomers (usually alkenes)
❖ Many polymers are plastics (synthetic polymers) like poly(ethene)
❖ In addition polymerisation, the double bonds between two carbon atoms open up
so that thousands of monomers can join up from end to end:
➢ there are the same amount of atoms in the monomer as the polymer, as
there are no other products formed when carbon opens it double bonds
❖ some uses of plastics such as polyethene, polypropylene and polystyrene are:
➢ polyethene (strong and easy to shape): cling film, water bottles, bins
➢ polypropylene (strong and tough): carpets, ropes, milk cartons
➢ polystyrene (stiff and transparent): foam cups, disposable utensils
, key ideas key words
C11.2 - Condensation Polymerisation
❖ Unlike addition polymerisation, in condensation polymerisation, there are two
products formed
➢ in addition polymerisation, there is an addition polymer formed
➢ in condensation polymerisation, there is the condensation polymer and a
smaller molecule of water or hydrogen chloride are formed as well
❖ In condensation polymerisation, there are often two types of monomers used, and
in the polymer, there are arranged in alternating monomers:
❖ Making polyesters is an example of condensation polymerisation:
➢ to make an ester, we have
❖ in a polyester, it’s quite similar, except that we use a diol and a dicarboxylic acid,
which means that the carboxylic acid has two functional groups of -COOH (one
at each end) and the alcohol has a functional group of -OH (one at each end)
❖ when representing the monomers or polymers, it’s the most important to show
the functional groups, not so much the carbon-hydrogen bonds in the middle
C11 Polymers
C11.1 - Addition Polymerisation
❖ Polymers long-chain molecules that are made from smaller molecules called
monomers (usually alkenes)
❖ Many polymers are plastics (synthetic polymers) like poly(ethene)
❖ In addition polymerisation, the double bonds between two carbon atoms open up
so that thousands of monomers can join up from end to end:
➢ there are the same amount of atoms in the monomer as the polymer, as
there are no other products formed when carbon opens it double bonds
❖ some uses of plastics such as polyethene, polypropylene and polystyrene are:
➢ polyethene (strong and easy to shape): cling film, water bottles, bins
➢ polypropylene (strong and tough): carpets, ropes, milk cartons
➢ polystyrene (stiff and transparent): foam cups, disposable utensils
, key ideas key words
C11.2 - Condensation Polymerisation
❖ Unlike addition polymerisation, in condensation polymerisation, there are two
products formed
➢ in addition polymerisation, there is an addition polymer formed
➢ in condensation polymerisation, there is the condensation polymer and a
smaller molecule of water or hydrogen chloride are formed as well
❖ In condensation polymerisation, there are often two types of monomers used, and
in the polymer, there are arranged in alternating monomers:
❖ Making polyesters is an example of condensation polymerisation:
➢ to make an ester, we have
❖ in a polyester, it’s quite similar, except that we use a diol and a dicarboxylic acid,
which means that the carboxylic acid has two functional groups of -COOH (one
at each end) and the alcohol has a functional group of -OH (one at each end)
❖ when representing the monomers or polymers, it’s the most important to show
the functional groups, not so much the carbon-hydrogen bonds in the middle
