A process chemist compares the atoms supplied by the monomers with the atoms in one repeating unit of each polymer.
| Route | Starting molecules | Atoms supplied | Atoms in one repeating unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | one alkene molecule | C3H6\text{C}_3\text{H}_6C3H6 | C3H6\text{C}_3\text{H}_6C3H6 |
| B | one molecule of each of two monomers, both with two functional groups | C8H16O6\text{C}_8\text{H}_{16}\text{O}_6C8H16O6 | C8H12O4\text{C}_8\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_4C8H12O4 |
The chemist concludes that atom counts cannot be used to distinguish addition polymerisation from condensation polymerisation.
Explain whether the data support the chemist's conclusion. In your answer, identify the type of polymerisation used in each route.
94 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Chemistry 7.3 Synthetic and naturally occurring polymers, covering 7.3.1 Addition polymerisation, 7.3.2 Condensation polymerisation, 7.3.3 Amino acids, and 7.3.4 DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and other naturally occurring polymers. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.