Polymers are everywhere: polyethylene bags, PVC pipes, polystyrene containers, rubber tyres, capron (nylon-6) and lavsan (PET) fibres. They are made by addition polymerisation or polycondensation. 1) Write the polymerisation equations for ethylene, vinyl chloride, styrene and isoprene; show and name the repeating unit of each polymer; explain the spatial structure of natural rubber. 2) Write the equations for making capron from ε-aminocaproic acid and lavsan from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; state which bond forms in each case. 3) State the differences between polymerisation and polycondensation; explain the essence and result of rubber vulcanisation. No calculations are required: for each part give the reaction equations (with structural formulas), conditions, names of substances and the necessary explanations.
The AI score is an estimate. In the official exam the written part is marked by BMBA examiners.