Chapter 18

Polymers
LEARNING OUTCOMES

 Define polymers
 Distinguish between addition and
condensation as reactions in the
formation of polymers
 Show how the monomers are linked in
the structure of the polymer
 Demonstrate the differences in
properties between the monomer and
the polymer it forms
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Polymers
LEARNING OUTCOMES

 Name examples of polymers formed by addition reactions

 Draw diagrams to represent the formulae of monomers
 State at least one use of each of the following types of
polymers: polyalkene
 Name examples of polymers formed by condensation
reactions
 Draw diagrams to represent the formulae of compounds
 State at least one use of each of the following types of
polymers: polyamide, polyester and polysaccharide
 Describe the hydrolysis of proteins
 Compare acid hydrolysis of a polysaccharide with
carbohydrate digestion in the body
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Polymers
Polymers
 Polymers are very large molecules called macromolecules.
 A macromolecule or polymer is built up of many small units called
monomers.
 Different macromolecules or polymers have different units or
monomers joined by different linkages.
 A polymer is a macromolecule which is made up of a large
number of simple molecules called monomers.

monomer monomer monomer monomer

polymer
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Polymers
Classifying Polymers
 Polymers are either naturally occurring or synthetic.

 Polymers are either addition polymers formed by an

addition process, or condensation polymers, formed
by the condensation process.
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Polymers
Polymers

Synthetic Natural

Polythene, Carbohydrates
PVC, Proteins
Polystyrene, Rubber (Natural)
Nylon,
Teflon ,
Perspex,
Terylene,
Polyurethane
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Polymers
Polymers

Additional polymers Condensation Polymers

Polythene Nylon
Polypropene Polyesters
Polychlorethene (PVC) Polysaccharides
Polyphenylethene Proteins
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Polymers

Polymerisation
 Polymerisation is the process whereby two or more
simple molecules (monomers) react and link together to
form a much larger molecule called polymer.
 There two types of polymerisation:
 Addition polymerisation and
 Condensation polymerisation.
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Polymers
Addition polymerisation
 In addition polymerisation one monomer adds on to the
another monomer to form a long chain polymer.
 The monomers must have a carbon-carbon double bond
so that addition reaction can take place.
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Polymers
Example of addition polymerisation
Formation of polyethene from ethene
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Polymers
Uses of polyethene
 Polyethene is the most widely used form of plastics.
 It is used for making common household
items like:
 plastic bags
 plastic bottles and containers
 clingfilm for wrapping fish and vegetables
 plastic buckets and hoses
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Polymers
Other addition polymers and their uses
Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC)
 It is an addition polymer made from a monomer called vinyl
chloride or chloroethene.

 It is used for making water pipes, gloves, rain coats and

shower curtains.
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Polymers
Other addition polymers and their uses
Poly(tetrafluoroethene) [PTFE]
 It is an addition polymer made from a monomer called
tetrafluoroethene.
F F
C=C
F F

 It is used for making seals and washers and for coating

non-stick pots and pans.
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Polymers
Condensation Polymerisation
 In condensation polymerisation, two or more monomers
join together with the elimination of a small molecule,
such as water.
 The monomers must have different reactive functional
groups so that they can react together to form a polymer.
 The polymer formed is called a condensation polymer.
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Polymers
Example of condensation polymerisation:
Nylon
 Nylon is formed by condensation
polymerisation from a dicarboxylic
acid (hexanedioic acid) and a
diamine (1,6-diamino-hexane).
 Uses of nlyon:
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Polymers
Formation of nylon
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Polymers
Terylene
 Terylene is also a condensation polymer.
 Terylene is formed by condensation
polymerisation from an diacid (benzene-
1,4-dicarboxylic acid) and a diol (ethane-
1,2-diol). = O
 It is a polyester with a –C–O– linkage.
 Uses of terylene:
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Polymers
Formation of Terylene
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Polymers
Fats and Oils
 Fats and oils are polyesters.
 A fat molecule consists of two parts – glycerol and chains
of fatty acids.
 Fats and oils contain three ester functional groups.
 When fat is hydrolysed by an enzyme such as lipase,
glycerol and fatty acids are produced.
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Polymers
Test for Fats
1. Add 2 cm3 of ethanol to a sample of the unknown in a test
tube.
2. Shake the mixture thoroughly.
3. Add 2 cm3 of water.
If fat is present, a cloudy white suspension will form at the top of
the solution.
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Polymers
Polysaccharides
 Polysaccharides are naturally occurring compounds with a general
formula CnH2nOn.
 ‘Mono’ means one and ‘saccharide’ means sugar.
 Monosacharides are simple, single sugar molecules which comprise
only one single basic unit. E.g. glucose, fructose, galactose
 Diasaccharides are complex sugars made up of two simple sugar
molecules. They are formed by condensation reactions. E.g. sucrose,
lactose, maltose
 Polysaccharides are made up of a large number of monosaccharides
joined together by numerous condensation reactions. E.g. starch,
glycogen, cellulose
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Polymers
Polysaccharides
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Polymers
Test for Starch
1.Add a few drops of iodine
solution to the unknown substance.
2.Observe the colour change, if any.

If starch is present, the iodine solution will turn from brown to

blue-black.
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Polymers
Test for Reducing Sugars – Benedict’s Test
1. Add 2 cm3 of Benedict’s solution to 2 cm3
of glucose solution or any other food
solution to be tested.
2. Shake the mixture and immerse the test
tube in a beaker of boiling water for two
minutes.
3. Observe and record any changes in colour.

If reducing sugar is present, a brick red

ppt. (or green, yellow, or orange ppt.) is
formed. If no reducing sugar is present,
the solution remains blue in colour.
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Polymers
Plastics
 Plastics are one of the most common materials
used in the world today.
 It has wide applications in making a host of things
ranging from spectacles to aeroplane parts.
 There are many kinds of plastics, such as:
 Polyethene
 Nylon
 PVC
 Polystyrene
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Polymers
Properties of plastics
Advantages
 Light and durable
 Corrosion resistant
 Can be easily moulded into a wide variety
of shapes and sizes
 Relatively cheap
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Polymers
Properties of plastics
Disadvantages
They burn easily to produce toxic fumes.
 Most plastics are non-biodegradable,
(cannot be decomposed by air and
bacteria), and hence causes pollution
to the environment.
 They are not as strong as metals.
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Polymers
Problems caused by the use of plastics
 The use of plastics in society has increased at a tremendous rate.
We use twenty times more plastic than we did fifty years ago.
 The manufacture of plastics uses up about 8% of the world’s oil
supply, leading to more competition for petroleum.
 Since most plastics are non-biodegradable, the amount of plastic
waste accumulating is rapidly increasing in our environment.
 Discarded plastics in rivers and oceans cause the death of many sea
creatures like turtles, fish and whales.
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Polymers
Some ways to reduce pollution
caused by plastics
1. Reduce the use of plastics for packaging and
transportation of goods.
2. Reduce the use of takeaway plastic bags when you
shop at supermarkets.
3. Practise and promote the use of proper disposal of
plastics used at home and on the beaches.
4. Reuse and recycle the used plastics.
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Polymers
Quick check
1. What is a polymer? Give two examples of polymers.
2. (a) State two reasons for using plastics in place of metals.
(b) Why is the body of a motor car not entirely
made of plastics?
3. (a) What is the difference between addition
polymerisation and condensation polymerisation?
(b) Give two examples each of addition polymers
and condensation polymers.
4. Deduce the structure of the monomers from which the following
polymers are built from.

(a) (b)

Solution
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Polymers
Solution to Quick Check
1. A polymer is a macromolecule made up of many small
units called monomers, e.g. nylon & Terylene.
2. (a) Plastics are lighter and easier to mould.
(b) Plastics are not strong enough to protect the
occupants in the car in case of accidents.
3. (a) In addition polymerisation, monomers are added
one to another to form a polymer, without any
molecule being removed from the reaction.
In condensation polymerisation, monomers are
joined together with the elimination of a small
molecule, such as water.
(b) Addition polymers: polyethene, polypropene
Condensation polymers: nylon, Terylene.
4. (a) (b)

Return
Chapter 18
Polymers

To learn more about Macromolecules and Plastics,

click on the links below!
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer
2. http://www.chemheritage.org/EducationalServices/nylon/chem/chem.html
3. http://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/esters/polyesters.html
4. http://www.plasticsresource.com/s_plasticsresource/index.asp
5. http://www.sdplastics.com/plastics.html