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Condensation polymersEdexcel A-Level Chemistry: Mind map

What this mind map covers

  • Condensation
  • Polyesters
  • Polyamides
  • Amino acids
  • Repeat units

Exam questions on Condensation polymers

  1. Poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, is used to make drinks bottles. It is made from benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid, HOOC–C₆H₄–COOH, and ethane-1,2-diol, HOCH₂CH₂OH.
    Explain why the formation of PET is called condensation polymerisation, and why each monomer must have two functional groups.2 marks
  2. Nylon-6,6 is a polymer used in ropes and fabrics. It is made from hexanedioic acid, HOOC(CH₂)₄COOH, and 1,6-diaminohexane, H₂N(CH₂)₆NH₂.
    Write the structural formula of the repeat unit of nylon-6,6.2 marks
  3. Two biodegradable plastics are each made from a single monomer. Poly(lactic acid), PLA, is made from 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, CH₃CH(OH)COOH. A polyamide is made from 6-aminohexanoic acid, H₂N(CH₂)₅COOH.
    Explain how PLA forms from a single monomer, and write the structural formula of its repeat unit.3 marks
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Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).