What are polymers? Polymer: very long molecules made by linking together smaller molecules called monomers Monomer Polymer

What are polymers? Polymer: very long molecules made by linking together smaller molecules called monomers – Plastics and nylons are examples of polymers Monomer Polymer Short segment of polyethylene terephthalate polymer

Naming polymers Polymers are named as follows: – Write “poly” which means “many” – Follow this with the name of the monomer – We often use the common name instead of the IUPAC name – Example: Consider the monomer 1-chloroethene. The common name for this is “vinyl chloride”. What would the polymer name be? ?

Addition Polymerization Reactions Synthetic polymers can be formed by Addition Polymerization, or Condensation Polymerization Addition Polymerization – Monomers with double bonds join together through multiple addition reactions – Look for: alkenes in the monomer, single bonds in polymer + Ethene Polyethene etc.

Addition Polymerization Reactions + ethenylbenzene (styrene) Polystyrene “Styrofoam”

Condensation Polymerization Reactions Condensation reactions – Monomers are joined together by the formation of ester or amide bonds – Look for: reactions between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol (ester bonds), or reactions between a carboxylic acid and an amine (amide bond) – Look for: the release of water molecules during the reaction 1,6-diaminohexane Adipic acid n Amide bond Nylon 66

Photodegradable Plastics “Regular” plastic Some can take 1000 years to break down naturally Barely degrades at all in landfills Harmful to land and marine wildlife Photodegradable plastic Can degrade in a few years to a few months Degrades if at surface of landfill Still harmful to land and marine wildlife, but degrades sooner All plastics are eventually degraded by sunlight, this can take 100s to 1000s of years Dr. James Guillet, a Canadian scientist invented a group of plastics that adsorb light easily, which degrades them much faster

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Biopolymers Cellulose DNA

Biopolymers Proteins

Biopolymers Lipids