<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

Initiation, propagation and termination

There are three stages in the process of addition polymerisation. Initiation refers to a chemical reaction that triggers off another reaction. In other words, initiation is the starting point of the polymerisation reaction. Chain propagation is the part where monomers are continually added to form a longer and longer polymer chain. During chain propagation, it is the reactive end groups of the polymer chain that react in each propagation step, to add a new monomer to the chain. Once a monomer has been added, the reactive part of the polymer is now in this last monomer unit so that propagation will continue. Termination refers to a chemical reaction that destroys the reactive part of the polymer chain so that propagation stops.

A polymerisation reaction takes place and the following polymer is formed:

Note: W, X, Y and Z could represent a number of different atoms or combinations of atoms e.g. H, F, Cl or CH 3 .

  1. Give the structural formula of the monomer of this polymer.
  2. To what group of organic compounds does this monomer belong?
  3. What type of polymerisation reaction has taken place to join these monomers to form the polymer?
  1. The monomer is:

  2. The monomer has a double bond between two carbon atoms. The monomer must be an alkene.

  3. In this example, unsaturated monomers combine to form a saturated polymer. No atoms are lost or gained for the bonds between monomers to form. They are simply added to each other. This is an addition reaction.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Condensation polymerisation

In this type of reaction, two monomer molecules form a covalent bond and a small molecule such as water is lost in the bonding process. Nearly all biological reactions are of this type. Polyester and nylon are examples of polymers that form through condensation polymerisation.

  1. Polyester Polyesters are a group of polymers that contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many forms of polyesters, the term polyester usually refers to polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is made from ethylene glycol (an alcohol) and terephthalic acid (a carboxylic acid). In the reaction, a hydrogen atom is lost from the alcohol, and a hydroxyl group is lost from the carboxylic acid. Together these form one water molecule which is lost during condensation reactions. A new bond is formed between an oxygen and a carbon atom. This bond is called an ester linkage . The reaction is shown in [link] .
    An acid and an alcohol monomer react (a) to form a molecule of the polyester 'polyethylene terephthalate' (b).
    Polyesters have a number of characteristics which make them very useful. They are resistant to stretching and shrinking, they are easily washed and dry quickly, and they are resistant to mildew. It is for these reasons that polyesters are being used more and more in textiles . Polyesters are stretched out into fibres and can then be made into fabric and articles of clothing. In the home, polyesters are used to make clothing, carpets, curtains, sheets, pillows and upholstery.

    Interesting fact

    Polyester is not just a textile. Polyethylene terephthalate is in fact a plastic which can also be used to make plastic drink bottles. Many drink bottles are recycled by being reheated and turned into polyester fibres. This type of recycling helps to reduce disposal problems.
  2. Nylon Nylon was the first polymer to be commercially successful. Nylon replaced silk, and was used to make parachutes during World War 2. Nylon is very strong and resistant, and is used in fishing line, shoes, toothbrush bristles, guitar strings and machine parts to name just a few. Nylon is formed from the reaction of an amine (1,6-diaminohexane) and an acid monomer (adipic acid) ( [link] ). The bond that forms between the two monomers is called an amide linkage . An amide linkage forms between a nitrogen atom in the amine monomer and the carbonyl group in the carboxylic acid.
    An amine and an acid monomer (a) combine to form a section of a nylon polymer (b).

Questions & Answers

First aid and basic life support with answer like rarely, always,never
Eddie Reply
can you please help me with organic reactions
Bohlale Reply
if someone can please do a lil summary of organic reactions
Alicia
I olso need help
Noko
hi I need help
Zamokwakhe
In organic chemistry we have prefixes used to indicate the number of carbon atoms in a organic compound Which are: 1~Meth 2~Eth 3~Prop 4~But 5~Pent 6~Hex 7~Hept 8~Oct
Ofentse
meaning of homologous series and functional series and hydrocarbon
Lusanda Reply
who can explain mechanics parts for me
Sifiso Reply
difference between a and g
Tshwaranang Reply
when dealing with vertical projectile motion you can threat it as if it is the same thing
Akhona
a is the acceleration and therefore when dealing with your calculations you always have to change the sign conversion if it, it will depend on which direction you're taking as positive and g is the gravitational force and remember that it always acts downwards.
Thato
functional chain of Alcohol
Naledi Reply
Hi Guys
Sinetemba
hy
Magdeline
hey
Tlhonolofatso
hello guys
Mukona
hy
Akhona
hey
Boitumelo
hy
Kwonda
hi
Mabatho
hy
Fortunate
hi
Johnson
hi
Desiree
hi
Yoanda
Hi
Celvin
I'm fine and you
Ntuthuko
eyy
Noko
hy
Kagiso
what is the definition of work
Berdes Reply
hi
Sifiso
so peoples what is meant when objects are directly or inversely proportional to each other?
Asanda Reply
when they're directly proportional they both decrease or increase at the same time....but when they're inversely proportional the other one increases while the other one decreases
Tiisetso
how do we draw a velocity vs time graph for bouncing ball
Jojo Reply
what is an atom
Jimmy Reply
an atom is an small particle of matter
Asanda
I don't understand the part about the objects sharing the same time when falling and reaching the initial and maximum height. Could you explain it?
Liyakha Reply
same here I don't understand
Lusanda
wat formula do you use for that
Lithemba
what is phosphorus?
Rasool Reply
what is isomers
Iphithule Reply
what are isomers
Iphithule
are compound that have the same molecular formula but different structural formulae
Lizzbeth
types of isomers?
Khensani
Chain isomer functional group isomer positional isomer
Lizzbeth
a learner is standing on a stationary 2,3kg skateboard. if the learner jump at a velocity of 0.37m.s forward.,the skateboard velocity become 8,9m.s backwards. calculate the mass of the learner
Sbongakonke Reply
initial velocity before the explosion
Tiisetso Reply

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Siyavula textbooks: grade 12 physical science. OpenStax CNX. Aug 03, 2011 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11244/1.2
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Siyavula textbooks: grade 12 physical science' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask