Condensation Polymers (A2 Only)

Condensation Polymers

Condensation reactions can produce polymers if the reagent has two functional groups on either end of the molecule. It can form polyesters and polyamides.

Synthesis of polyesters

Condensation reaction between diol and dicarboxylic acid monomers.
- Dicarboxylic acid derivatives can also be used, such as acid anhydrides and acyl chlorides.
- The mechanism is nucleophilic addition-elimination, shown above.
The condensation reactions produce small molecules, alongside the polymer, such as H₂ and HCl.
- Terylene is a polyester synthesised from ethane-1,2-diol and benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid.

Synthesis of polyamides

Formed by the condensation reaction between diamine and dicarboxylic acid monomers.
- Again dicarboxylic derivatives can be used instead, such as acid anhydrides and acyl chlorides.
Again, the mechanism is the same as for polyesters and a small molecule is also produced.
Both fibres of Kevlar and Nylon-6,6 are polyamides.

Synthesis of polypeptides

Proteins (polypeptides) are bipolymers formed from amide linkages. They are a specific type of polyamides.
- They are produced by condensation reactions between α-amino acids.
α-Amino acids contain an amine and a carboxylic acid group at either end.
- These two groups can react to form the amide linkage.

1Physical Chemistry

1.1Atomic Structure

1.1.1Fundamental Particles

1.1.2Isotopes & Mass Number

1.1.3Mass Spectrometry

1.1.4Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals

1.1.5Electron Configuration

1.1.6Ionisation Energy

1.1.7Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies

1.1.8Trends of Ionisation

1.1.9Specific Impacts on Ionisation Energies

1.1.10End of Topic Test - Atomic Structure

1.1.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Atomic Structure

1.2Amount of Substance

1.2.1Relative Masses

1.2.2The Mole

1.2.3The Ideal Gas Equation

1.2.4Empirical & Molecular Formulae

1.2.5Balanced Equations

1.2.6Percentage Yield

1.2.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Percentage Yield

1.2.8Atom Economy

1.2.9End of Topic Test - Amount of Substance

1.2.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Substances & Yield

1.3Bonding

1.3.1Ionic Bonding

1.3.2Covalent & Dative Bonding

1.3.3Carbon Structures

1.3.4Metallic Bonding

1.3.5Physical Properties

1.3.6Shapes of Molecules

1.3.7Polarity

1.3.8Intermolecular Forces

1.3.9Intermolecular Forces 2

1.3.10End of Topic Test - Bonding

1.3.11Exam-Style Question - Shape of Molecules

1.3.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Bonding

1.4Energetics

1.4.1Enthalpy Changes

1.4.2Calorimetry

1.4.3Hess' Law

1.4.4Bond Enthalpies

1.4.5End of Topic Test - Energetics

1.5Kinetics

1.5.1Collision Theory

1.5.2Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution

1.5.3Increasing Rates

1.5.4End of Topic Test - Kinetics

1.6Equilibria

1.6.1Le Chatelier

1.6.2Equilibrium Constants

1.6.3A-A* (AO3/4) - Energetics, Kinetics, Equilibria

1.6.4End of Topic Test - Equilibria

1.7Redox

1.7.1Redox

1.7.2End of Topic Test - Redox

2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

2.1Thermodynamics (A2 Only)

2.1.1Born-Haber Cycles (A2 Only)

2.1.2Born-Haber Cycle Calculations (A2 Only)

2.1.3Entropy (A2 Only)

2.1.4Free Energy (A2 Only)

2.1.5End of Topic Test - Thermodynamics

2.1.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Thermodynamics

2.2Rate Equations (A2 Only)

2.2.1Rate Equations (A2 Only)

2.2.2Rate Equations 2 (A2 Only)

2.2.3The Arrhenius Equation (A2 Only)

2.2.4Experimental Methods for Rates (A2 Only)

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Rate Equations

2.2.6Exam-Style Question - Rates

2.2.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Rate Equations

2.3The Equilibrium Constant Kp (A2 Only)

2.3.1Properties of Kp (A2 Only)

2.4Electrochemical Cells (A2 Only)

2.4.1Electrochemical Cells (A2 Only)

2.4.2Electrochemical Series (A2 Only)

2.4.3Commercial Application (A2 Only)

2.4.4End of Topic Test - Kp & Electrochemistry

2.4.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Electrochemical Cells

2.5Acids & Bases (A2 Only)

2.5.1Brønsted-Lowry Acids & Bases (A2 Only)

2.5.2pH (A2 Only)

2.5.3The Ionic Product of Water (A2 Only)

2.5.4Weak Acids & Bases (A2 Only)

2.5.5pH Curves & Titrations (A2 Only)

2.5.6pH Curves & Titrations 2 (A2 Only)

2.5.7Buffer Solutions (A2 Only)

2.5.8End of Topic Test - Acids & Bases

2.5.9Exam-Style Question - Weak Acids

2.5.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Acids & Bases

3Inorganic Chemistry

3.1Periodicity & Trends

3.1.1The Periodic Table

3.1.2Trends in the Periodic Table

3.1.3End of Topic Test - Periodicity & Trends

3.2Group 2

3.2.1Group 2 Chemistry

3.2.2End of Topic Test - Group 2

3.3Group 7

3.3.1Introduction to Halogens

3.3.2Reactions of Halogens

3.3.3Chlorine & Chlorate(I)

3.3.4End of Topic Test - Group 7

3.3.5Exam-Style Question - Group 7

3.3.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Periodicity, Group 2 & 7

4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

4.1Period 3 (A2 Only)

4.1.1Period 3 Elements & Oxides (A2 Only)

4.1.2Period 3 Oxides (A2 Only)

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Period 3

4.2Transition Metals (A2 Only)

4.2.1General Properties (A2 Only)

4.2.2Substitution Reactions (A2 Only)

4.2.3Shapes of Complex Ions (A2 Only)

4.2.4Colours of Ions (A2 Only)

4.2.5Variable Oxidation States (A2 Only)

4.2.6Titrations (A2 Only)

4.2.7Homogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)

4.2.8Heterogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)

4.2.9End of Topic Test - Transition Metals

4.2.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Transition Metals

4.3Reactions of Ions in Aqueous Solutions (A2 Only)

4.3.1Acidity (A2 Only)

4.3.2Identification (A2 Only)

4.3.3End of Topic Test - Reactions of Ions in Solution

5Organic Chemistry 1

5.1Introduction

5.1.1Naming Conventions

5.1.2Mechanism

5.1.3Isomerism

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Introduction to Organic Chem

5.2Alkanes

5.2.1Fractional Distillation

5.2.2Cracking

5.2.3Combustion

5.2.4Chlorination

5.2.5End of Topic Test - Alkanes

5.3Halogenoalkanes

5.3.1Substitution Reactions

5.3.2Elimination Reactions

5.3.3Ozone Depletion

5.3.4End of Topic Test - Halogenoalkanes

5.4Alkenes

5.4.1Introduction to Alkenes

5.4.2Reactions of Alkenes

5.4.3Polymerisation Reactions

5.4.4Properties of Polymers

5.4.5End of Topic Test - Alkenes

5.5Alcohols

5.5.1Production of Alcohols

5.5.2Oxidation of Alcohols

5.5.3Oxidation of Alcohols - 2

5.5.4Elimination Reactions

5.5.5End of Topic Test - Alcohols

5.5.6Exam-Style Question - Alcohols

5.6Organic Analysis

5.6.1Reactions

5.6.2Reactions 2

5.6.3Mass Spectrometry

5.6.4Infrared Spectroscopy

5.6.5End of Topic Test - Organic Analysis

5.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 1

5.7.1A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 1

6Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

6.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)

6.1.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)

6.1.2End of Topic Test - Optical Isomerism

6.2Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)

6.2.1Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)

6.2.2End of Topic Test - Aldehydes & Ketones

6.3Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)

6.3.1Acids & Esters (A2 Only)

6.3.2Acylation (A2 Only)

6.3.3End of Topic Test - Carboxylic Acids & Esters

6.4Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)

6.4.1Structure & Reactivity (A2 Only)

6.4.2Reactions of Benzene (A2 Only)

6.4.3End of Topic Test - Aromatic Chemistry

6.5Amines (A2 Only)

6.5.1Nature & Preparation of Amines (A2 Only)

6.5.2Basicity & Nucleophilicity (A2 Only)

6.5.3End of Topic Test - Amines

6.6Polymers (A2 Only)

6.6.1Condensation Polymers (A2 Only)

6.6.2Biodegradability (A2 Only)

6.7Biological Organic (A2 Only)

6.7.1Amino Acids (A2 Only)

6.7.2Proteins (A2 Only)

6.7.3DNA (A2 Only)

6.7.4Anti-Cancer Drugs (A2 Only)

6.7.5End of Topic Test - Biological Organic

6.8Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)

6.8.1Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)

6.8.2Examples of Synthetic Routes (A2 Only)

6.8.3End of Topic Test - Polymers & Organic Synthesis

6.9NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)

6.9.1Understanding NMR (A2 Only)

6.9.2Carbon-13 NMR (A2 Only)

6.9.3Hydrogen-1 NMR (A2 Only)

6.9.4Hydrogen-1 NMR 2 (A2 Only)

6.9.5End of Topic Test - NMR

6.10Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.10.1Overview of Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.10.2Thin-Layer Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.10.3Column Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.10.4Gas Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.10.5End of Topic Test - Chromatography

6.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2

6.11.1A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2

Jump to other topics