GCSE Chemistry - Chemistry - Key Stage 4

Organic chemistry

Condensation polymers

Dr Patel
Key equipment slide

In today’s lesson you will need:

● A pen
● A pencil
● A ruler
● A calculator
● A periodic table
Source of image: Oak

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 Source of image: Oak

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Agenda

Monomers in condensation polymers

Drawing and types of condensation polymers

Comparing addition and condensation polymers

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Warm up
Homologous series Functional group
C-C

C=C
Alcohol
Carboxylic acid

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Review
Homologous series Functional group
Alkane C-C

Alkene C=C
Alcohol -OH

Carboxylic acid -COOH

Ester

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Condensation polymers
Condensation polymers - examples

● Polyesters (synthetic)

● Polypeptides (natural)

Credit: Pixabay, derneuemann, jacket

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Condensation polymers - Monomers

HOOC CH2CH2CH2 COOH

HO CH2CH2CH2 OH

HOOC CH2CH2CH2 NH2

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Polyesters
HOOC COOH

HO OH

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Forming a polyester
Dicarboxylic acid + diol polyester +
O water O
C C H-O O-H
H-O O-H

+ 2H2O
O
O
C C
O O
n

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True or false: Polyesters are formed by the reaction between a
dicarboxylic acid and an di-alkene.

True False
True or false: Condensation polymers need to have two
functional groups.

True False
True or false: When condensation polymers are formed, there
are two products.

True False
What is the small molecule that is released during a
condensation reaction?

Water
How many water molecules are released when two monomers
react together during a condensation reaction?

One Two
Pause point
1. What are the monomers that make up polyesters?
2. During condensation polymerisation, what small molecule is released?
3. How many of those small molecules are released when two monomers join?
4. How many functional groups must each monomer have for condensation polymers to
form?
5. Name the following monomers:

HOOC COOH HO OH

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Review
1. What are the monomers that make up polyesters?
Dicarboxylic acids and diols

2. During condensation polymerisation, what small molecule is released?

Water

3. How many of those small molecules are released when two monomers join?
Two

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Review
4. How many functional groups must each monomer have for
condensation polymers to form?
Two

5. Name the following monomers.

Dicarboxylic acid Diol

HOOC COOH HO OH

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Pause point
Draw the polymer formed from the monomers below.

SCAFFOLD
To draw the polymer unit formed:
1. Circle the OH group on the carboxylic acid and the H group on the alcohol
2. Eliminate the water
3. Join the leftover bonds between the 2 molecules together.
4. Place square brackets over the left over bonds on either side and put an n on the outside

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Review

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Condensation polymers - Monomers

HOOC NH2

Polypeptides

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Forming a polypeptide
H O H O
N C N C
H O-H H O-H

+ 2H2O
H
O
O
N C
N C
n
H
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Pause point
1. What are the monomers that make up polypeptides?

2. During condensation reactions between these monomers, what small molecule is

released?

3. How many of those small molecules are released when two monomers join?

4. Name the functional groups present in the monomer below:

HOOC NH2

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Review
1. What are the monomers that make up polypeptides?
Amino acids
2. During condensation reactions between these monomers, what small molecule is
released?
Water
3. How many of those small molecules are released when two monomers join?
Two
4. Name the functional groups present in the monomer below:
Carboxylic acid group and amine group

HOOC NH2

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Pause point
Glycine is an amino acid. Draw the polymer formed from glycine monomers.

SCAFFOLD
To draw the polymer unit formed:
1. Circle the OH group on the carboxylic acid and the H group on the alcohol
2. Eliminate the water
3. Join the leftover bonds between the 2 molecules together.
4. Place square brackets over the left over bonds on either side and put an n on the outside

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Review

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Comparing addition polymers with
condensation polymers
Reminder - Addition polymerisation

H H H H
Catalyst
n C C C C
High pressure
H H H H
n
Monomer Polymer

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How many water molecules are released when two monomers
react together during a condensation reaction?

None Two
How many functional groups are needed for addition
polymerisation?

One Two
How many functional groups are needed for condensation
polymerisation?

One Two
What is the monomer used to make addition polymers?

Alkenes
What is the functional group in an alkene?

C=C
Independent task
Addition Condensation
Number of
monomer types

Number of
products
Functional group
involved

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Review
Addition Condensation
Number of One monomer type: alkene 2 monomer types each containing 2 same
monomer types functional
OR
1 monomer types which contains 2
different functional groups
Number of One – the addition polymer 2: the condensation polymer and small
products molecule usually water
Functional group C= C Which ever 2 functional groups present on
involved monomer
E.g. COOH, OH, NH2

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Independent practice
Compare addition polymerisation and condensation polymerisation

Support:
● Use comparative language e.g. whereas, however, more, less
● Use your corrected table

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Review
Compare addition polymerisation and condensation polymerisation
● Addition polymers produce only one product whereas condensation polymerisation produces
two products.
● Only one type of monomer makes up addition polymers, and these are alkenes. By
comparison, condensation polymers can use two different monomers with either the same, or
different functional groups.
● Condensation polymers release two molecules of water, whereas no water is released during
addition polymerisation.
● The monomers for addition polymers contain only one functional group (C=C), whereas each
monomer for condensation polymers requires two functional groups.

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Review

Monomers in condensation polymers

Drawing and types of condensation polymers

Comparing addition and condensation polymers

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