Polyester fibres are used to make clothing. One polyester is made from two monomers:
ethanediol, HO−CH2−CH2−OH\mathrm{HO-CH_{2}-CH_{2}-OH}HO−CH2−CH2−OH, and hexanedioic acid, HOOC−(CH2)4−COOH\mathrm{HOOC-(CH_{2})_{4}-COOH}HOOC−(CH2)4−COOH
Name the functional group in each monomer.
Name the small molecule that is formed each time an ester link forms.
A polyester chain contains 500 ester links. State the number of small molecules formed when this chain is made.
Compare addition polymerisation with condensation polymerisation.
Explain why a polyester cannot be made if ethanol, CH3CH2OH\mathrm{CH_{3}CH_{2}OH}CH3CH2OH, is used instead of ethanediol.
37 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 10.3 Polymers, covering 10.3.1 Addition polymerisation of alkenes, 10.3.2 Uses and properties of polymers, 10.3.3 Condensation polymers and polyesters, 10.3.4 Problems with polymers and recycling, and 10.3.5 Natural polymers: DNA, starch and proteins. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.