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OCR A Level Chemistry A – Module 6 Organic Chemistry and Analysis

6.2.3
Polyesters
and Polyamides

Section 6.2.3 covers condensation polymerisation to form polyesters and polyamides (a), the acid and base hydrolysis of the ester groups in polyesters and the amide groups in polyamides (b), and the prediction from addition and condensation polymerisation of the repeat unit from given monomers, of the monomers required for a given section of a polymer and of the type of polymerisation (c).

Exam Paper
Paper 2 & 3
H432/02 and H432/03
Learning Outcomes
6.2.3 (a) – (c)
3 learning outcomes
Sub-topics
2 lessons
Revision notes available
Exam Board
OCR
H432 (2015 onwards)

Revision Notes

2 revision notes, in the order the specification teaches them.

Two kinds of monomer linked with water leaving
1

Condensation Polymers: Polyamides and Polyesters

Condensation polymers: polyamides and polyesters, repeat units, monomers, linkages and intermolecular forces.

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Plastic buried in the ground and an incinerator with a chimney filter
2

Polymers: Properties and Disposal

Polymer properties and disposal: inert polyalkenes, hydrolysable polyesters and polyamides.

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Summary Map

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Summary map

Download, print and revise the key facts of this topic at a glance.

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Summary map · PDF

Polymers Map

OCR A Level Chemistry A · 6.2.3 Polyesters and polyamides

All of 6.2.3 on one A4 page: polyamides, polyesters, acid and base hydrolysis, and predicting polymers.

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Revision Game

Match reagents to products, free, with your board's reagents and conditions.

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Revision Game: Polyesters and polyamides

Turn the cards over two at a time: match reagents to what they make, and find how each product is made.

A free memory game on the reactions in this topic, with your board's reagents, conditions and spec points.

  • Two ways to playMatch each set of reagents to what the reaction makes, or see a product and find the reactant and reagents that make it.
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Study Cards

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Specification

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6.2.3

  1. a (i)

    condensation polymerisation to form polyesters

    Revise
  2. a (ii)

    condensation polymerisation to form polyamides

    Revise
  3. b (i) a

    the acid hydrolysis of the ester groups in polyesters

    Revise
  4. b (i) b

    the base hydrolysis of the ester groups in polyesters

    Revise
  5. b (ii) a

    the acid hydrolysis of the amide groups in polyamides

    Revise
  6. b (ii) b

    the base hydrolysis of the amide groups in polyamides

    Revise
  7. c (i)

    prediction from addition and condensation polymerisation of the repeat unit from a given monomer(s)

    Revise
  8. c (ii)

    prediction from addition and condensation polymerisation of the monomer(s) required for a given section of a polymer molecule

    Revise
  9. c (iii)

    prediction from addition and condensation polymerisation of the type of polymerisation

    Revise