Organic Chemistry Of Condensation polymerization (Nylon, Terylene) Define terms Give 2 WAEC thereory and 5 WAEC objective questions Provide answers and a solutions after each question Turn everything to code for blogger.com

 

Condensation Polymerization (Nylon and Terylene)

Definition of Terms

1. Condensation Polymerization: This is a process whereby two or more bifunctional or trifunctional monomers chemically combine to form a macromolecule (polymer) with the elimination or loss of small molecules such as water ($H_2O$), ammonia ($NH_3$), or hydrogen chloride ($HCl$).
2. Monomer: The small, simple, reactive molecular unit possessing functional groups from which a polymer is built up.
3. Polymer: A high-molecular-weight macromolecule formed by the linkage of numerous repeating structural monomer units.
4. Nylon (Nylon-6,6): A synthetic polyamide polymer formed by the condensation reaction between a dicarboxylic acid (hexanedioic acid) and a diamine (hexane-1,6-diamine), linked together by amide linkages ($-CO-NH-$).
5. Terylene (Dacron): A synthetic polyester polymer formed by the condensation reaction between a dicarboxylic acid (benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid / terephthalic acid) and a diol (ethane-1,2-diol), linked together by ester linkages ($-CO-O-$).

WAEC Theory Questions & Solutions

THEORY Q1

(a) State two differences between addition polymerization and condensation polymerization.

(b) Name the two monomers used in the preparation of Nylon-6,6 and state the type of linkage that binds them together.

Answer:

(a) Differences:

Addition Polymerization Condensation Polymerization
Monomers must be unsaturated (contain double or triple bonds). Monomers must be bifunctional or polyfunctional (contain functional groups like $-OH, -COOH, -NH_2$).
No by-product is formed; only the polymer is produced. A small molecular by-product (like $H_2O$ or $HCl$) is eliminated.

(b) Monomers of Nylon-6,6: Hexanedioic acid (adipic acid) and Hexane-1,6-diamine.
Type of linkage: Amide linkage (or peptide linkage).

Solution/Explanation:
Nylon-6,6 gets its name because both of its starting monomers contain exactly 6 carbon atoms. When the carboxylic acid group ($-COOH$) reacts with the amine group ($-NH_2$), a molecule of water is dropped, leaving behind a stable amide link ($-\text{C}=\text{O}-\text{NH}-$).

THEORY Q2

(a) Terylene is classified as a polyester. Explain why.

(b) Give the structural formula of the repeating unit in Terylene.

Answer:

(a) Terylene is called a polyester because the repeating chemical bonds holding its monomer units together are ester linkages ($-CO-O-$), formed by reacting an alkanol group with an alkanoic acid group.

(b) Structural Formula of Terylene repeating unit:

[-O-CH₂-CH₂-O-CO-C₆H₄-CO-]ₙ

Solution/Explanation:
During the formation of Terylene, ethane-1,2-diol ($HO-CH_2-CH_2-OH$) loses $H^+$ atoms from its alcohol ends, and benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid ($HOOC-C_6H_4-COOH$) loses $-OH$ groups from its acid ends. They bond together at the site of elimination to create an ester connection chain.


WAEC Objective Questions & Solutions

OBJECTIVE Q1

Which of the following pairs of monomers can undergo condensation polymerization?

  • A. Ethene and Propene
  • B. Ethane-1,2-diol and Benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid
  • C. Propanoic acid and Ethanol
  • D. Chloroethene and Vinyl chloride

Correct Answer: B

Solution: Condensation polymerization requires bifunctional monomers. Ethane-1,2-diol has two alcohol groups, and benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid has two acid groups. Option A and D undergo addition polymerization, while Option C forms a simple ester molecule, not a polymer chain.

OBJECTIVE Q2

A distinguishing feature of condensation polymers is that during their formation:

  • A. A catalyst is never required
  • B. Only one product is formed
  • C. Small molecules like water are eliminated
  • D. The empirical formula of the polymer is identical to the monomer

Correct Answer: C

Solution: By definition, condensation processes always yield the major macromolecule along with the splitting out of minor molecules like $H_2O$, $HCl$, or $NH_3$.

OBJECTIVE Q3

The amide linkage in Nylon-6,6 is represented by which of the following groups?



OBJECTIVE Q4

Which of the following substances is a natural polymer that mimics the structural linkage setup found in Nylon?

  • A. Starch
  • B. Protein
  • C. Cellulose
  • D. Natural rubber

Correct Answer: B

Solution: Proteins are natural polyamides made from amino acid monomers linked together by peptide bonds. A peptide bond is chemically identical to the amide linkage found in synthetic Nylon.

OBJECTIVE Q5

The monomers for Terylene production are ethane-1,2-diol and benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid. Terylene is commercially categorized as a:

  • A. Polyamide
  • B. Polyalkene
  • C. Polyester
  • D. Polyurethane

Correct Answer: C

Solution: Because the chemical combination forms regular repeating ester links between the diol and dicarboxylic acid monomers, Terylene falls under the class of polyesters.

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