Condensation Polymerization is a chemical process that forms polymers by linking monomers and releasing a small molecule, such as water or alcohol. This step-growth mechanism is vital for producing materials like Nylon, Polyester, and Polycarbonates. It involves stages of initiation, propagation, and termination, with the presence of bifunctional or polyfunctional monomers being crucial. Understanding this process is fundamental in organic chemistry and material synthesis.
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Monomers are molecules that react to form larger chains called polymers in the process of condensation polymerization
Active Center
An active center is formed during initiation and propagates by reacting with more monomers, elongating the polymer chain
Termination
Termination occurs when the active centers become inactive, ending the chain growth
Condensation Polymerization is characterized by the release of a small molecule by-product, the involvement of at least two reactive functional groups in the monomers, and the progression through initiation, propagation, and termination stages
Condensation Polymerization follows a step-growth mechanism where bifunctional or polyfunctional monomers link to form dimers, trimers, and long polymer chains
The general reaction for Condensation Polymerization is represented as (-M-A-B-)n → (-M-A-B-)n + n HX, where n is the number of repeating units, M is the monomer, A and B are the functional groups, and HX is the small molecule by-product
Nylon, Polyester, and Polycarbonates are examples of polymers created through Condensation Polymerization
Initiation involves the activation of functional groups in the monomers, creating an active center
Propagation is the stage where the active center reacts with more monomers, elongating the polymer chain and releasing a small molecule by-product
Termination concludes the polymer growth and can occur through various mechanisms, such as chain transfer or coupling reactions
Condensation Polymerization is a pivotal concept in organic chemistry, enabling the transformation of simple monomers into complex polymer structures
The equations that describe Condensation Polymerization are essential for the empirical study and practical application in the material synthesis industry