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Chemistry

Amines and polymers

Condensation polymers

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Practical skills

The scientific method

How to plan experiments

Improving repeatability and reproducibility

Presenting results using tables and graphs

Analysing results: anomalies and correlation

Evaluating experiments

Modern analytical techniques II

NMR spectroscopy

Proton NMR spectroscopy

Chromatography

Combining analytical techniques

Organic chemistry III

Benzene: structure and combustion

Electrophilic substitution

Friedel-Crafts reactions

Phenols

Aliphatic and aromatic amines

Reactions of amines

Forming amides

Condensation polymers

Amino acids and zwitterions

Grignard reagents

Synthetic routes

Practical techniques

Percentage composition and combustion analysis

Organic chemistry II

Optical isomers and chirality

Aldehydes and ketones

Carboxylic acids: properties and reactions

Esters: formation, properties and uses

Acyl chlorides: formation and reactions

Kinetics II

Measuring rates of reaction

Determining reaction orders

The initial rates method

Rate equations and the rate constant

The rate determining step

Halogenoalkane reaction mechanisms

Activation energy and the Arrhenius equation

Transition metals

Transition metals: electron configuration and oxidation number

Complex ions: formation, shape and isomerism

Colours of inorganic ions and complexes

Chromium and its reactions

Ligand substitution reactions

Transition metals as catalysts

Redox II

Electrochemical cells and redox

Electrode potentials and calculations

The electrochemical series

Energy storage cells and hydrogen fuel cells

Redox titrations

Energetics II

Lattice enthalpies and Born-Haber cycles

Polarisation and the Pauling scale

Enthalpy change in solution

Entropy and calculating entropy change

Gibbs free energy change

Acid-base equilibria

Acids and bases

pH calculations

The ionic product of water

pH curves and indicators

Buffer solutions and calculations

Equilibrium II

The equilibrium constant

Partial pressure and gas equilibria

Le Chatelier's principle and equilibrium constants

Equilibrium I

Reversible reactions

Le Chatelier's principle

Kinetics I

Collision theory and rates of reaction

Calculating the rate of reaction

Catalysts and the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution

Energetics I

Enthalpy changes and reaction profiles

Standard enthalpy changes

Hess's Law and enthalpy cycles

Calculating bond enthalpies

Modern analytical techniques I

Mass spectrometry

IR spectroscopy

Organic chemistry I

Basic concepts of organic chemistry

Organic reactions and mechanisms

Structural isomerism

Alkanes and free radical substitution

Fractional distillation of crude oil

Fuels: combustion and emissions

Alkenes: bonding and reactivity

Stereoisomerism

Reactions of alkenes

Addition polymerisation

Halogenoalkanes and their reactions

Alcohol: classification and reactions

Oxidation of alcohols

Organic techniques

Formulae, equations and amounts of substances

The mole and Avogadro's constant

Calculations involving gases

Empirical and molecular formulae

Balancing equations

Acid-base titrations

Calculating uncertainty and errors

Atom economy and percentage yield

Inorganic chemistry and the periodic table

Group 2: ionisation energy and properties

Thermal stability of nitrates and carbonates

Chemical properties of Group 7

Reactions with halogens

Halide ion reactions

Testing for ions

Redox I

Calculating oxidation numbers

Oxidation, reduction and redox reactions

Bonding and structure

Ionic bonding

Covalent bonding

Shapes of molecules

Giant covalent and metallic structures

Electronegativity and polarisation

Intermolecular forces: types and examples

Hydrogen bonding

Solubility

Predicting structures and properties

Atomic structure and the periodic table

The atom: history, structure and isotopes

Relative masses and mass spectrometry

Electronic structure: shells and orbitals

Atomic emission spectra

Ionisation energies

Ionisation energy trends

Periodicity

Explainer Video

Tutor: Alisha

Summary

Condensation polymers

In a nutshell

Polyesters and polyamides are example of condensation polymers. They are strong due to their polar bonds. The polymers are represented using repeat units and can be determined by the monomers. Condensation polymers contain ester and/or amide links.

Condensation polymerisation

Condensation polymerisation occurs when monomers with two different functional groups are joined together by the elimination of a small molecule such as water or hydrogen chloride.

Example

Examples of condensation polymers are polyesters, polyamides, polypeptides and proteins.

Polyesters

Polyesters are formed by reacting together a hydroxyl and a carboxyl, giving rise to an ester link. Polyesters are essentially a long chain of ester molecules.

Chemistry; Organic chemistry III; KS5 Year 12; Condensation polymers

Example

Polyamides

Polyamides are formed by reacting together an amine and a carboxyl group together, giving rise to an amide link. Polyamides are essentially a long chain of amide molecules.

Example

Polypeptides and proteins

Amino acids contain both an amine and a carboxyl group. Polypeptides and proteins are formed by reacting amino acids together, giving rise to an amide link. The amide links in polypeptides and proteins are called peptide links. Proteins are the assembly of two or more polypeptides.

Repeat unit

Since polymers are (very) large molecules they are represented using repeat units in the displayed formula.

To draw a repeat unit:

PROCEDURE

1.	Draw the monomers near each other.
2.	Draw brackets around the two monomers.
3.	Remove the $OH$ of the carboxyl group(s).
4.	Remove one $H$ atom from the amine group(s) or the alcohol group(s).
5.	If it's a polyester, join the carbon (of the carbonyl group) and the oxygen (initially part of a hydroxyl group) next each other. If it's a polyamide or polypeptide, join the carbon (of the carbonyl group) and the nitrogen (of the amine) near each other.
6.	Extend the bonds at the ends of the repeat unit. Ensure they extend outside the brackets as it indicates that the chain is longer.
7.	Add a subscript 'n' on the bottom right hand corner. This indicates a large number of repeat units.

Example

Identifying the monomer

The monomers can be identified from the repeat unit.

PROCEDURE

1.	Find the ester/amide link in the repeat unit.
2.	Break the bond of the ester/amide link.
3.	Add $OH$ to any carbon atoms at the end of the molecule. This will reform your carboxyl group.
4.	Add a $H$ to any nitrogen or oxygen atoms at the end of the molecule. This will give you your amine or alcohol group.

Example

The monomers for the polyamide shown to the left are $1,3$ -diamonopropane and heptane- $1,7$ -dicarboxylic acid.

Condensation polymers are strong

Condensation polymers tend to be strong. This is due to the polar bonds in these polymers which give rise to hydrogen bonding and permanent dipole-dipole interactions, on top of the van der Waals forces.

Complex condensation polymers

Molecules with both an amine and an alcohol group can react with dicarboxylic acids. The polymers formed will contain amide and ester links.

Example

Molecules containing both a carboxyl group and an amine/alcohol group can undergo polymerisation with itself i.e. only one type of monomer is required for polymerisation, as the monomer contains the desired reactive functional groups.

Example

Learn with Basics

Length:

Unit 1

Ceramics, polymers and composites

Unit 2

Polymers

Jump Ahead

Optional

Unit 3

Condensation polymers

Final Test

Create an account to complete the exercises

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

What are peptide links?

The amide links in polypeptides and proteins are called peptide links.

How are polyamides formed?

Polyamides are formed by reacting together an amine and a carboxyl group together.

What are examples of condensation polymers?

Examples of condensation polymers are polyesters, polyamides, polypeptides and proteins.

Home

Chemistry

Amines and polymers

Condensation polymers

Videos

Summary

Exercises

Select Lesson

Exam Board

Select an option

Practical skills

The scientific method

How to plan experiments

Improving repeatability and reproducibility

Presenting results using tables and graphs

Analysing results: anomalies and correlation

Evaluating experiments

Modern analytical techniques II

NMR spectroscopy

Proton NMR spectroscopy

Chromatography

Combining analytical techniques

Organic chemistry III

Benzene: structure and combustion

Electrophilic substitution

Friedel-Crafts reactions

Phenols

Aliphatic and aromatic amines

Reactions of amines

Forming amides

Condensation polymers

Amino acids and zwitterions

Grignard reagents

Synthetic routes

Practical techniques

Percentage composition and combustion analysis

Organic chemistry II

Optical isomers and chirality

Aldehydes and ketones

Carboxylic acids: properties and reactions

Esters: formation, properties and uses

Acyl chlorides: formation and reactions

Kinetics II

Measuring rates of reaction

Determining reaction orders

The initial rates method

Rate equations and the rate constant

The rate determining step

Halogenoalkane reaction mechanisms

Activation energy and the Arrhenius equation

Transition metals

Transition metals: electron configuration and oxidation number

Complex ions: formation, shape and isomerism

Colours of inorganic ions and complexes

Chromium and its reactions

Ligand substitution reactions

Transition metals as catalysts

Redox II

Electrochemical cells and redox

Electrode potentials and calculations

The electrochemical series

Energy storage cells and hydrogen fuel cells

Redox titrations

Energetics II

Lattice enthalpies and Born-Haber cycles

Polarisation and the Pauling scale

Enthalpy change in solution

Entropy and calculating entropy change

Gibbs free energy change

Acid-base equilibria

Acids and bases

pH calculations

The ionic product of water

pH curves and indicators

Buffer solutions and calculations

Equilibrium II

The equilibrium constant

Partial pressure and gas equilibria

Le Chatelier's principle and equilibrium constants

Equilibrium I

Reversible reactions

Le Chatelier's principle

Kinetics I

Collision theory and rates of reaction

Calculating the rate of reaction

Catalysts and the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution

Energetics I

Enthalpy changes and reaction profiles

Standard enthalpy changes

Hess's Law and enthalpy cycles

Calculating bond enthalpies

Modern analytical techniques I

Mass spectrometry

IR spectroscopy

Organic chemistry I

Basic concepts of organic chemistry

Organic reactions and mechanisms

Structural isomerism

Alkanes and free radical substitution

Fractional distillation of crude oil

Fuels: combustion and emissions

Alkenes: bonding and reactivity

Stereoisomerism

Reactions of alkenes

Addition polymerisation

Halogenoalkanes and their reactions

Alcohol: classification and reactions

Oxidation of alcohols

Organic techniques

Formulae, equations and amounts of substances

The mole and Avogadro's constant

Calculations involving gases

Empirical and molecular formulae

Balancing equations

Acid-base titrations

Calculating uncertainty and errors

Atom economy and percentage yield

Inorganic chemistry and the periodic table

Group 2: ionisation energy and properties

Thermal stability of nitrates and carbonates

Chemical properties of Group 7

Reactions with halogens

Halide ion reactions

Testing for ions

Redox I

Calculating oxidation numbers

Oxidation, reduction and redox reactions

Bonding and structure

Ionic bonding

Covalent bonding

Shapes of molecules

Giant covalent and metallic structures

Electronegativity and polarisation

Intermolecular forces: types and examples

Hydrogen bonding

Solubility

Predicting structures and properties

Atomic structure and the periodic table

The atom: history, structure and isotopes

Relative masses and mass spectrometry

Electronic structure: shells and orbitals

Atomic emission spectra

Ionisation energies

Ionisation energy trends

Periodicity

Explainer Video

Tutor: Alisha

Summary

Condensation polymers

In a nutshell

Condensation polymerisation

Condensation polymerisation occurs when monomers with two different functional groups are joined together by the elimination of a small molecule such as water or hydrogen chloride.

Example

Examples of condensation polymers are polyesters, polyamides, polypeptides and proteins.

Polyesters

Polyesters are formed by reacting together a hydroxyl and a carboxyl, giving rise to an ester link. Polyesters are essentially a long chain of ester molecules.

Example

Polyamides

Polyamides are formed by reacting together an amine and a carboxyl group together, giving rise to an amide link. Polyamides are essentially a long chain of amide molecules.

Example

Polypeptides and proteins

Repeat unit

Since polymers are (very) large molecules they are represented using repeat units in the displayed formula.

To draw a repeat unit:

PROCEDURE

1.	Draw the monomers near each other.
2.	Draw brackets around the two monomers.
3.	Remove the $OH$ of the carboxyl group(s).
4.	Remove one $H$ atom from the amine group(s) or the alcohol group(s).
5.	If it's a polyester, join the carbon (of the carbonyl group) and the oxygen (initially part of a hydroxyl group) next each other. If it's a polyamide or polypeptide, join the carbon (of the carbonyl group) and the nitrogen (of the amine) near each other.
6.	Extend the bonds at the ends of the repeat unit. Ensure they extend outside the brackets as it indicates that the chain is longer.
7.	Add a subscript 'n' on the bottom right hand corner. This indicates a large number of repeat units.

Example

Identifying the monomer

The monomers can be identified from the repeat unit.

PROCEDURE

1.	Find the ester/amide link in the repeat unit.
2.	Break the bond of the ester/amide link.
3.	Add $OH$ to any carbon atoms at the end of the molecule. This will reform your carboxyl group.
4.	Add a $H$ to any nitrogen or oxygen atoms at the end of the molecule. This will give you your amine or alcohol group.

Example

The monomers for the polyamide shown to the left are $1,3$ -diamonopropane and heptane- $1,7$ -dicarboxylic acid.

Condensation polymers are strong

Complex condensation polymers

Molecules with both an amine and an alcohol group can react with dicarboxylic acids. The polymers formed will contain amide and ester links.

Example

Learn with Basics

Length:

Unit 1

Ceramics, polymers and composites

Unit 2

Polymers

Jump Ahead

Optional

Unit 3

Condensation polymers

Final Test

Create an account to complete the exercises

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

What are peptide links?

The amide links in polypeptides and proteins are called peptide links.

How are polyamides formed?

Polyamides are formed by reacting together an amine and a carboxyl group together.

What are examples of condensation polymers?

Examples of condensation polymers are polyesters, polyamides, polypeptides and proteins.