• Classification of Polymers

• Addition and Condensation

• Degree of Polymerization
• The first ten normal alkanes and some of their properties
are listed in Table 22.1. Note
• that all alkanes can be represented by the general formula
CnH2n 2. For example, nonane,
• which has nine carbon atoms, is represented by C9H(2 9)
2, or C9H20. Also note from
• Table 22.1 that the melting points and boiling points
increase as the molar masses increase,
• as we would expect.
• Isomerism in Alkanes
• Butane and all succeeding members of the alkanes exhibit
structural isomerism
• Draw the isomers of pentane.
• Solution
• Pentane (C5H12) has the following isomeric structures:
• 1. CH3 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH3
• n-Pentane
• FIGURE 22.4
• (a) Normal butane (abbreviated n-butane).
• (b) The branched isomer of butane (called
• isobutane).
• TABLE 22.1 Selected Properties of the First Ten Normal Alkanes
• Number of
• Melting Boiling Structural
• Name Formula Molar Mass Point (°C) Point (°C) Isomers
• Methane CH4 16 182 162 1
• Ethane C2H6 30 183 89 1
• Propane C3H8 44 187 42 1
• Butane C4H10 58 138 0 2
• Pentane C5H12 72 130 36 3
• Hexane C6H14 86 95 68 5
• Heptane C7H16 100 91 98 9
• Octane C8H18 114 57 126 18
• Nonane C9H20 128 54 151 35
• Decane C10H22 142 30 174 75
• (a)
• (b)
• Sample Exercise 22.1
• Hydrocarbons that contain at least one
carbon–carbon double bond are called
alkenes and
• have the general formula CnH2n. The simplest
alkene (C2H4), commonly known as
• ethylene, has the Lewis structure
• As
 Polymers

• Polymers: What are they?

• Different Types
• Uses and Applications
• Chemical Make-up
 Polymers - What are they?
• Polymers are a special kind of macromolecule
• The word polymer comes from the Greek
words “poly,” meaning “many”, and “meres,”
meaning “parts” or “repeating units”
• A Polymer consists of a large chain of
repeating molecules (monomers) that are
attached in an end to end fashion
 Description of Polymers

• Imagine a string of beads

– Each bead is identical (for example, red sphere)
– Represents the “mer”
– The string can contain 100’s of beads
– Represents the “poly” characteristic
– The string in between the beads represents the
chemical bond between monomers
 Length of Polymers
• Polymer chains are HUGE!
• Polymers typically consist of between 20,000
and 40,000 individual monomers
– If each bead on the string of beads were one inch
apart, one polymer molecule could be as long as
10 football fields!!!
• This chain length is what gives the polymer
most of its desirable characteristics
 Description of Polymers

• Polymer chains are flexible, and usually

“clump” together into a smaller shape
• This enables the individual chains to interact
and become entangled
• This helps to give a polymer its strength and
flexibility
 Types of Polymers
• There are two main types of polymers

– Natural
– (cotton, silk, wood, leather…)

– Synthetic
– (plastics, nylon, latex…)
 Synthetic Polymers
• There are two basic types of synthetic
polymers
– Thermoplastics (plastics, Styrofoam)
– These can be softened by heating and hardened by cooling -
easily recycled
– Can easily be cast into various shapes
– Thermosets (epoxy’s, adhesives)
– These harden after being heated
– Can easily be cast into different shapes
– Cannot be reformed
 Types of Polymers - Copolymers

• Most polymer chains are made up of one type

of monomer (for example, red beads)
• However, some polymers are made up of
different types of monomers (for example,
blue and red beads) - these are called
copolymers
 Copolymers
• There are four main types of copolymers
• The different monomers can be arranged
either in an alternating or random fashion
– Alternating
...-red-blue-red-blue-red-blue-red-blue-red-…
– Random
…-blue-red-red-blue-red-blue-blue-red-blue-…
 Copolymers
• There are also block copolymers and graft co-
polymers
– Block
…-R-R-R-R-R-R-B-B-B-B-B-B-R-R-R-R-R-R-…
– Graft
…-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-…
|
B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-…
 Polymers - Pros and Cons
• A polymer has many very advantageous
properties. Polymers are:
– Lightweight
– Strong and durable
– Cheap
– Easy to manufacture
• Unfortunately, polymers do not easily
biodegrade and end up producing large
amounts of waste
 Uses of Polymers
• Polymers are incorporated into nearly every
aspect of daily life
– Entertainment
– Sports
– Clothes
– Hobbies/Toys
– Household products
– Automotive
 Polymer Chemistry

• A polymer chain is built on a Carbon

backbone
• A monomer unit consists of a small carbon
chain attached to a specific type of
functional group
• The functional group is what gives each
polymer chain its individual characteristics
 Polymer Chemistry

• As previously stated, polymer chains

interact with one another, becoming
entangled
• Polymer chains also form cross-links with
adjacent chains, which allows the polymer
to hold its shape and gives added strength
 Summary
• Polymers are made up of large chains of
repeating units, called monomers
• Individual chains interact to form a stronger
overall substance through entanglements and
cross-links
• Polymers are incorporated into almost every
aspect of daily life
• Polymers are lightweight, strong, and
inexpensive