CAIE A Level Chemistry 9701 · Polymerisation

Polymerisation: explain question

Explain5 marksChallenge

A condensation polymer is formed when propane-1,3-diol reacts with butanedioic acid. The polymer contains the following section:

\ce{-O-CH2CH2CH2-O-C(O)-CH2CH2-C(O)-}

Explain, using the structure of the repeat unit, how this polymer is formed and identify the class of polymer to which it belongs.

How this question is marked

5 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 5 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.

Explain means: Give the reasons or the mechanism: why or how something happens. Link each point to the next with because, so or which means. A list of facts with no links usually loses the reasoning marks.

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