GROUP 1
The fundamental repeating chemical unit from which a polymer is constructed.
What is a monomer?
In this type of polymerization, a small molecule like water or HCl is eliminated as a byproduct.
What is condensation (or step-growth) polymerization?
This region of the electromagnetic spectrum is used to identify functional groups based on bond vibrations.
What is Infrared (IR)?
This addition polymer is famous for its non-stick properties and high thermal stability (PTFE).
What is Teflon?
The temperature at which an amorphous polymer changes from a brittle "glassy" state to a flexible "rubbery" state.
What is the Glass Transition Temperature (T_g)?
This classic addition polymer is used for non-stick coatings and is known chemically as PTFE.
What is Teflon (or Polytetrafluoroethylene)?
This process involves adding sulfur to natural rubber to create cross-links, improving strength and elasticity.
What is vulcanization?
This law states that absorbance is directly proportional to the concentration of the solution and the path length.
Beer-Lambert Law?
Used widely in pipes and raincoats, this polymer often requires plasticizers to become flexible.
What is Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)?
These additives are mixed into polymers to increase flexibility and reduce brittleness.
What are plasticizers?
Unlike thermoplastics, these polymers undergo a permanent chemical change when heated and cannot be reshaped.
What are thermosetting polymers (or Thermosets)?
The type of polymerization mechanism that typically involves a chain carrier like a free radical, cation, or anion.
What is addition (or chain-growth) polymerization?
The unique region of an IR spectrum below 1/1500cm used for absolute identification of a compound.
What is the fingerprint region?
The first fully synthetic thermosetting plastic, often used in old electrical switches and pot handles.
What is Bakelite?
A polymer that can undergo very large reversible deformations (like rubber).
What is an elastomer?
This process involves adding sulfur to natural rubber to create cross-links, improving elasticity and strength.
What is vulcanization?
This substance is added to a reaction to start the polymerization process by creating reactive centers.
What is an initiator?
In NMR spectroscopy, this rule (n+1) is used to predict the splitting pattern of a proton signal.
What is Spin-Spin Coupling?
This high-strength aromatic polyamide is used to manufacture bulletproof vests and high-performance tires.
What is Kevlar?
Between M_n (Number Average) and M_w (Weight Average), this one is always larger in a polydisperse system.
What is Weight Average Molecular Weight (M_w)?
In this type of polymerization, a small molecule like water or HCl is eliminated as a byproduct.
What is condensation polymerization (or Step-growth)?
This specific type of synthesis produces polymers with very narrow molecular weight distributions, often called "living polymerization."
What is Anionic Polymerization?
This reference standard is used in NMR to set the 0ppm point on the chemical shift scale.
What is Tetramethylsilane (TMS)?
A common example of a biodegradable polymer used in 3D printing and medical sutures.
What is Polylactic Acid (PLA)?
This term describes the three-dimensional network formed in thermosets that prevents them from melting.
What is cross-linking?