Apply and explain the concept

of polymerisation
Chapter 7

Polymers you will recognise

starch ( amylose)
cellulose
glycogen
DNA
proteins
wool

polythene

(polyethylene)
nylon
PVC
Teflon
polyesters

Starch (amylose) polymer of glucose

monomers

starch molecules may between 500 to 2

million glucose units long!
monomer

-(C6H10O5)-n

energy store in plants

Cellulose polymer of glucose

monomers
monomer
plant fibre

-(C6H10O5)-n

Glycogen polymer of glucose

monomers
monomer
(C6H10O5)-n
energy store in
animals
(liver and muscles)

DNA polymer of nucleotide

monomers

some synthetic polymers

polyethene (polythene)
nylon
PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
Teflon
polyesters

Definition of terms
Monomer

Polymer

Definition of terms
Monomer - (from Greek mono "one"

and meros "part") A molecule that

can chemically combine with others
to form a polymer
Polymer - a large molecule

(macromolecule) composed of
repeating structural units typically
connected by covalent chemical
bonds.

Polymerisation
apply and explain the concept of polymerisation

such as polypeptides, silicones or plastics.

Addition polymerisation

poly(ethene) and poly(vinyl chloride)

monomers' double-bonds open up to form
continuous chain

Condensation polymerisation

polyesters

polyethene

Formation of polyethene from

ethene by addition polymerisation
200oC
202650kPa

polyethene polymer unit

Addition polymerisation
General equation

Interactions between polymer chains. In

some regions the individual strands can
get very close and the dispersion forces
are quite strong.

The arrangement of carbon chains in

low and high density polyethene

HDPE
Predominantly

linear chains have

relatively high
molecular mass
HDPE
Have high

mechanical
strength
High dispersion

forces
bottles and pipes

LDPE
Predominantly

branched chains
have relatively
low molecular
mass LDPE
Have low

mechanical
strength
cling wraps,

bags, soft toys

PVC poly(vinyl chloride)

A better name is

Condensation polymerisation
Reaction between two different functional groups in

which a water molecule is eliminated.

Eg

Equation for formation of polyester

Dicarboxylic acid with a diol

to form a polyester, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET),

more commonly known as terylene

A general representation of condensation

polymerisation
Dicarboxylic acid with a diol to form a polyester

Terylene
poly(ethylene
terephthalate)

Polypeptides naturally occurring

condensation polymers
form when the -COOH functional group of one

monomer reacts with the -NH2 functional group of

another monomer.
An amide link or peptide bond (-CO-NH-) forms

between monomers during the reaction.

H2O is eliminated in the reaction.

Three examples of amino

acids
glycine

alanine

valine

Polypeptide or amide link

The amide link is the functional group in an amino

acid- amine bond between amino acids.

proteins
enzymes
respiratory
digestive

hormones
thyroxin

structural
muscle

transport
haemoglobin

immuno-proteins
plasma membranes

 Proteins are formed by many polyamide

(polypeptide) linkages.
This is called the primary structure of proteins.
.
These long chains are then
folded, pleated and
twisted in an organised way with hydrogen bonds
holding the structure of the molecule.

 Complete Nelson
Sets 7.1 to 7.6