3/14/2021 Natural Polymers | CIE IGCSE Chemistry Revision Notes

GCSE  IGCSE  AS  A Level  More 

Join Now
Login
CIE IGCSE Chemistry
 Revision Notes

Home / CIE IGCSE Chemistry / Revision Notes / 14. Organic Chemistry / 14.3 Polymers / 14.3.3 Natural Polymers

14.3.3 Natural Polymers

 DOWNLOAD PDF

Proteins & Carbohydrates

Feedback

These are two of the main and most important components of food
Carbohydrates provide energy which is released during cellular respiration
Proteins are the building blocks of cells and are essential for growth and all of the enzyme
catalysts in the body are proteins

 Extended Only

Proteins as Polymers

Proteins are condensation polymers which are formed from amino acid
monomers joined together by peptide bonds, similar to the structure in Nylon
The units in proteins are different however, consisting of amino acids
Amino acids are small molecules containing NH2 and COOH functional groups
Most proteins contain at least 20 different amino acids
These are the monomers which polymerise to form the protein

https://www.savemyexams.co.uk/notes/igcse-chemistry-cie-new/14-organic-chemistry/14-3-polymers/14-3-3-natural-polymers/ 1/8
3/14/2021 Natural Polymers | CIE IGCSE Chemistry Revision Notes

 DOWNLOAD PDF
Feedback

Diagram showing condensation polymerisation to produce a protein

Hydrolysis of proteins

Proteins can be hydrolysed by the addition of water in acidic or alkaline conditions

Heat and concentrated acid (usually 6 mol/dm3 HCl) are used with a re ux
condenser to prevent the acidic vapours from escaping the reaction vessel
Aqueous ammonia is added after completion to neutralise the excess acid
Enzymes can also be used to hydrolyse some proteins at room temperature,
mimicking natural bodily processes

https://www.savemyexams.co.uk/notes/igcse-chemistry-cie-new/14-organic-chemistry/14-3-polymers/14-3-3-natural-polymers/ 2/8
3/14/2021 Natural Polymers | CIE IGCSE Chemistry Revision Notes

 DOWNLOAD PDF
Feedback

Diagram showing the rupture of a peptide link by hydrolysis


Exam Tip
When drawing biological polymers it is important that you show the peptide
link clearly in your sketch.

https://www.savemyexams.co.uk/notes/igcse-chemistry-cie-new/14-organic-chemistry/14-3-polymers/14-3-3-natural-polymers/ 3/8
3/14/2021 Natural Polymers | CIE IGCSE Chemistry Revision Notes

 DOWNLOAD PDF

Diagram showing a peptide link which holds proteins together

Feedback

 Extended Only

Carbohydrates, Fermentation & Chromatography

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen with the general
formula:

Cx(H2O)y

There are simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates

Simple carbohydrates are called monosaccharides and are sugars such as
fructose and glucose
Complex carbohydrates are called polysaccharides such as starch and cellulose.
These are condensation polymers formed from simple sugar monomers
Complex carbohydrates, unlike proteins, are usually made up of the same
monomers

https://www.savemyexams.co.uk/notes/igcse-chemistry-cie-new/14-organic-chemistry/14-3-polymers/14-3-3-natural-polymers/ 4/8
3/14/2021 Natural Polymers | CIE IGCSE Chemistry Revision Notes

A H2O molecule is eliminated when simple sugars polymerise. The linkage formed
DOWNLOAD
a glycosidic
is an -O- linkage called linkage PDF
 

Diagram of a polysaccharide showing the glycosidic linkages (-O-) binding the

monomers together

 
Feedback

Hydrolysis of carbohydrates

The complex carbohydrates also undergo hydrolysis and produce the simple sugar
monomers from which they were made
This can be done by re uxing with more moderately concentrated HCl

Fermentation of simple sugars

Simple sugars can be fermented to produce alcohol

They are dissolved in water and yeast is added to be fermented between 15 and
35°C in the absence of oxygen for a few days
If the temperature is too low the reaction rate will be too slow and if it is too high
the enzymes will become denatured
Yeast contains zymase enzymes (biological catalysts) that break down starch or
sugar to glucose
The yeast respires anaerobically using the glucose to form ethanol and carbon
dioxide:

C6H12O6 + Enzymes → 2CO2 + 2C2H5OH

Chromatography

The identi cation of the products of the hydrolysis of carbohydrates and proteins
can be done using chromatography

https://www.savemyexams.co.uk/notes/igcse-chemistry-cie-new/14-organic-chemistry/14-3-polymers/14-3-3-natural-polymers/ 5/8
3/14/2021 Natural Polymers | CIE IGCSE Chemistry Revision Notes

Originally used for separating coloured substances, chromatography can be used

 DOWNLOAD
to identify colourless compounds PDF
using locating agents
Both carbohydrate and protein monomers are colourless so locating agents must
be used
A technique called 2-Dimensional paper chromatography is used as some simple
sugars and amino acids have the same Rf value
In this technique a run is carried out in one direction, then the paper is rotated by
90º and performed again using a different solvent
This further separates sample spots that may not have separated in the rst run
The resulting chromatogram is dried and sprayed with a locating agent
The Rf value of each solvent used is characteristic for each sugar or amino acid

 
Feedback

Diagram showing the procedure for performing 2-Dimensional paper

chromatography

 TEST YOURSELF

1. THE PARTICULATE NATURE OF MATTER

2. EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES

3. ATOMS, ELEMENTS & COMPOUNDS

https://www.savemyexams.co.uk/notes/igcse-chemistry-cie-new/14-organic-chemistry/14-3-polymers/14-3-3-natural-polymers/ 6/8
3/14/2021 Natural Polymers | CIE IGCSE Chemistry Revision Notes

4. STOICHIOMETRY  DOWNLOAD PDF

5. ELECTRICITY & CHEMISTRY

6. CHEMICAL ENERGETICS

7. CHEMICAL REACTIONS

8. ACIDS, BASES & SALTS

9. THE PERIODIC TABLE

Feedback

10. METALS

11. WATER & AIR

12. SULFUR

13. CARBONATES

14. ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

14.1 Organic Chemistry & Fuels

14.2 Functional Group Chemistry

14.3 Polymers

https://www.savemyexams.co.uk/notes/igcse-chemistry-cie-new/14-organic-chemistry/14-3-polymers/14-3-3-natural-polymers/ 7/8
3/14/2021 Natural Polymers | CIE IGCSE Chemistry Revision Notes

 DOWNLOAD PDF
14.3.1 Polymers

14.3.2 Synthetic Polymers

14.3.3 Natural Polymers

Author: Morgan
Morgan’s passion for the Periodic Table begun on his 10th birthday when he received his rst
Chemistry set. After studying the subject at university he went on to become a fully edged
Chemistry teacher, and now works in an international school in Madrid! In his spare time he helps
Feedback

create our fantastic resources to help you ace your exams.

Resources Support Company

Home FAQs About Us
Members Contact Terms
Join Us Privacy
Sitemap Policy
Blog Jobs

© Copyright 2015-2021 Save My Exams Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

 

https://www.savemyexams.co.uk/notes/igcse-chemistry-cie-new/14-organic-chemistry/14-3-polymers/14-3-3-natural-polymers/ 8/8