AQA · Chemistry · 8462
GCSE Chemistry (AQA): Condensation Polymers
Topic 7 — Organic Chemistry. Generated from the caption track of Cognito's lesson video "GCSE Chemistry - Condensation Polymers (Polyesters) (2026/27 exams)"; each card deep-links to the moment in the video it came from. Lesson 7.16 of Cognito's AQA GCSE Chemistry (Triple) course (Higher tier), filed under AQA Chemistry 8462. Teaching by Cognito — https://cognitoedu.org/coursesubtopic/c2-gcse-aqa-h-t_7.16.
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Which small molecule is lost when a dicarboxylic acid reacts with a diol?
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Water — the acid loses an OH group and the diol loses a hydrogen from its OH group.
What is formed when ethanedioic acid reacts with ethanediol?
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A polyester (poly(ethyl ethanoate)) and water.
Why are polyesters generally biodegradable?
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Bacteria and other microorganisms can break down the ester links.
When drawing a polyester repeat unit, which atoms are removed from the dimer's ends?
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An OH group and a hydrogen atom, leaving open bonds pointing outwards.
How many carboxylic acid groups does a dicarboxylic acid monomer contain?
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Two.
How many functional groups must each monomer in a condensation polymer have?
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At least two.
What does the letter n represent in a condensation polymer equation?
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The number of monomer molecules (and repeat units) involved, since there are hundreds or thousands.
Unlike polyesters, addition polymers are generally ? biodegradable, so they persist in the environment.
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not
Why are condensation polymers given that name?
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Because the reaction forms water molecules, like water condensing from a gas.
How many water molecules are formed per repeat unit of a polyester?
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Two, which is why the equation shows 2n H₂O.
The bond formed between the carbon of the dicarboxylic acid and the oxygen of the diol is called the ? link.
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ester
Which two monomers are commonly used to make a polyester?
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A dicarboxylic acid and a diol.
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