Condensation Polymers

This lesson covers:

  1. What 'condensation polymers' are
  2. How dicarboxylic acids and diols can form polyesters
  3. Why condensation polymers are biodegradable 

ester / acid / alkali / monomers / diol


Condensation polymers can be made by joining together dicarboxylic monomers and monomers. These monomers are joined together by links.

acid
diol
ester

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Diagram showing the structure of a condensation polymer with a coloured box representing a specific part of the molecule.

What does the coloured box represent?

The shape of the molecule

The colour of the molecule

The rest of the molecule in simplified form

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Diagram of a molecule with two carboxyl groups, relevant to condensation polymers.

What is the molecule above?

A dicarboxylic monomer

A diol monomer

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Diagram showing the molecular structure of ethanediol with hydroxyl groups and hydrogen atoms.

What is the molecule above?

A diol monomer

A dicarboxylic monomer

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What is a dimer?

Three monomers combined

A type of currency

Two monomers combined

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When is a polymer referred to as a 'condensation' polymer?

When the reactants condense from a gas state into a liquid state

When water is a produced as a by-product of the reaction

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Diagram showing monomers with carboxylic acid and alcohol functional groups needed for polyester condensation polymerisation.

To make a polyester condensation polymerisation, the monomers need to have enough carboxylic acid and alcohol functional groups to form a long continuous chain. This means that each monomer needs to have at least two functional groups.

Chemical equation showing the formation of a condensation polymer from ethanoic acid and propanediol.

Using pen and paper, complete the above chemical equation and diagram to form a repeating unit of a polyester and water.


(Click 'Continue' when you're ready to check your answer)

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Which type of polymers are biodegradable?

Condensation polymers

Addition polymers

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Why are condensation polymers biodegradable? 

Ester links disintegrate in water

Carboxylic bonds are weak

Ester links can be broken down by microorganisms

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