Download Polymerization Reactions

Polymerization
Reactions
Plastics, Fibers and Foods
Polymerization
 The
formation of very
large molecules from a
number of smaller,
REPEATING hydrocarbon
molecules

Smaller MONOMERS are
chained together by
addition reactions or
condensation
Let’s Remember…
Addition
Condensation

Large molecular chains
are classified as
macromolecules or
polymers
Homopolymers – chains
formed from repeating
patterns of the same
monomer
 Copolymers – chains
containing more than 1
kind of monomer

Addition
Polymerization
 Addition
reactions are
caused by the breaking of
double bonds to form
single bonds (leaving a
bonding area open)
Example

Use structural diagrams to show the
polymerization of ethylene into
polyethylene
ethene

polyethylene

Polyethylene is used to make wire
coverings, plastic milk jugs, refrigerator
dishes and lab squirt bottles.

Think about why this polymer is good for
these purposes?!
Example 2

Use structural diagrams to show the
polymerization of vinyl chloride into
polyvinyl choride.
chloroethene

PVC

Polyvinyl chloride or PVC (maybe you’ve
heard of it?) is used in PVC piping, as well
as raincoats and upholstery.

Think about why this polymer is good for
these purposes?!
Condensation
Polymerization

Monomers are joined by
extracting a hydroxyl (OH)
group from one molecule and
a hydrogen from the other to
create water and a bond
Polyesters

condensation
polymerization reactions
between fatty alcohols and
fatty carboxylic acids
O
OH + C-OH
Example (POLYESTERS)

Polyester is created from 2 alternating
monomers (forming a copolymer). One
monomer (TEREPHTHALIC ACID) is
benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid
(C6H4(COOH)2). The other monomer
(ETHYLENE GLYCOL) is ethane-1,2-diol
(C2H4(OH)2). Use structural diagrams to
show the process of synthesizing
polyester.
Polysaccharides

Condensation
polymerization reactions
between carbohydrates
(sugar molecules)
H + O-H
Example 4
(POLYSACCHARIDE)

In cellulose (the structural support of
plants) glucose monomers (C6H12O6)
are added to produce linear polymer
chains that can align side by side (favoring
interchain hydrogen bonding)
Polyamides

Condensation polymerization
reactions between an amine
group and a carboxylic acid
O
NH2 + C-OH
Example 2 (POLYAMIDES)

Proteins are fundamental structural
materials in plants and animals. They
consist of long chains of amino acids
which are produced through a
condensation reaction between a
carboxyl group (COOH) and an amine
(NH2). Use structural diagrams to show
the process of synthesizing a dipeptide
with glycine and alanine.
Example 3 (POLYAMIDES)

Nylon is similar to a protein however it is
the synthetic (man-made) protein of the
peptide condensation polymerization
between hexane-1,6-dioic acid and 1,6diaminohexane. Use structural diagrams
to show the process of synthesizing nylon.
Polymer Structure

If the monomers that
make up a polymer are
polar, the macromolecule
will be polar and therefore
soluble in water
 As
the length of the
polymer increases,
strength and toughness of
the chain increase and the
melting and boiling points
become higher