Name: Eghan Kojo

Index N o : 6138811
Experiment N 0 : O 2.2.3
Graduate Assistant:
Emmanuel Kwakye Boateng
Date: 5 t h March, 2013

TITLE: POLYMERISATION
AIMS
1. To enable us to take two organic molecules and convert them into a bigger one.
2. To be able to prepare a polymers from monomers

INTRODUCTION
A polymer is any of various chemical compounds made of smaller, identical molecules called monomers
linked together. Some polymers, like cellulose, occur naturally, while others, like nylon, are artificial. Polymers
have extremely high molecular weights, make up many of the tissues of organisms, and have extremely varied
and versatile uses in industry, such as in making plastics, concrete, glass, and rubber. The process by which
molecules are linked together to form polymers is called polymerization.
Polymerization is a chemical process that combines several monomers to form a polymer or polymeric
compound. In chemical compounds, polymerization occurs via a variety of reaction mechanisms that vary in
complexity due to functional groups present in reacting compounds and their inherent steric effects. In more
straightforward polymerization, alkenes, which are relatively stable due to bonding between carbon atoms, form
polymers through relatively simple radical reactions; in contrast, more complex reactions such as those that
involve substitution at the carbonyl group require more complex synthesis due to the way in which reacting
molecules polymerize. Natural polymeric materials such as shellac, amber, wool, silk and natural rubber have
been used for centuries. A variety of other natural polymers exist, such as cellulose, which is the main
constituent of wood and paper. The list of synthetic polymers includes synthetic rubber, phenol formaldehyde
resin (or Bakelite), neoprene, nylon, polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl), polystyrene, polyethylene,
polypropylene, polyacrylonitrile, PVB, silicone, and many more.
Most commonly, the continuously linked backbone of a polymer used for the preparation of plastics consists
mainly of carbon atoms. A simple example is polyethylene ('polythene' in British English), whose repeating unit
is based on ethylene monomer. However, other structures do exist; for example, elements such as silicon form
familiar materials such as silicones, examples being Silly Putty and waterproof plumbing sealant. Oxygen is
also commonly present in polymer backbones, such as those of polyethylene glycol, polysaccharides (in
glycosidic bonds), and DNA (in phosphodiester bonds). The distinct piece of each monomer that is incorporated
into the polymer is known as a repeat unit or monomer residue.
Laboratory synthetic methods are generally divided into two categories, step-growth polymerization and
chain-growth polymerization. The essential difference between the two is that in chain growth polymerization,
monomers are added to the chain one at a time only, such as in polyethylene, whereas in step-growth

polymerization chains of monomers may combine with one another directly, such as in polyester. However,
some newer methods such as plasma polymerization do not fit neatly into either category. Synthetic
polymerization reactions may be carried out with or without a catalyst. Laboratory synthesis of biopolymers,
especially of proteins, is an area of intensive research.
Step-growth polymers are defined as polymers formed by the stepwise reaction between functional groups of
monomers, usually containing heteroatoms such as nitrogen or oxygen. Most step-growth polymers are also
classified as condensation polymers, but not all step-growth polymers (like polyurethanes formed from
isocyanate and alcohol bifunctional monomers) release condensates; in this case, we talk about addition
polymers. Step-growth polymers increase in molecular weight at a very slow rate at lower conversions and
reach moderately high molecular weights only at very high conversion.
Chain-growth polymerization (or addition polymerization) involves the linking together of molecules
incorporating double or triple carbon-carbon bonds. These unsaturated monomers (the identical molecules that
make up the polymers) have extra internal bonds that are able to break and link up with other monomers to form
a repeating chain, whose backbone typically contains only carbon atoms. Chain-growth polymerization is
involved in the manufacture of polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). A
special case of chain-growth polymerization leads to living polymerization.
Urea-methanal is a condensation polymer which contains amide cross linkages. Thus, it is a
thermosetting polymer which shows a fire resistant property. In addition, it is very hard and widely used in
making electrical sockets and plugs due to its insulating, low density but yet wear resistant properties. A simple
synthesis of the polymer can be carried out by mixing equal amount of urea and methanal slowly in a container.
In this experiment, urea-methanal is prepared and its properties are compared with a thermoplastic, polyethene
in plastic wrap.
Both urea-methanal and phenol-methanal are similar except that they are different by virtue of the ease by
which they can be coloured with pigments. Here, urea-methanal is transparent, as such, can easily be coloured
with pigments. Urea-methanal is can be prepared as foam and used in making insulators. The use of ureamethanal also extends to making kitchenware and electrical fittings.
The reaction for the Urea methanal is

CHEMICALS
1. Methanal
2. Urea
3. Concentrated Sulphuric acid

APPARATUS
1. Boiling tube
2. Electronic balance
3. Stirrer

PROCEDURE
Step
An empty boiling tube was weighed on an
electronic balance.
2cm3 of methanol was measured into the empty
boiling tube and small amounts of urea added
until a saturated solution was obtained.

Observation
The weight was recorded to be 38.44g.

There was a clear solution and residue of urea

at saturation point.
The test tube became very cold due to an
endothermic reaction between the methanol
and urea.
Two drops of concentrated sulphuric acid was
A whitish solid was observed in the boiling
added to the saturated solution.
tube.
The test tube became very hot due to the
exothermic reaction between the H2SO4 and the
solution.
The whitish solid was weighed with the boiling The weight of the substance and the boiling
tube.
tube was recorded to be 43.16g.

CALCULATIONS
Mass of empty boiling tube = 38.44g
Mass of solid and empty boiling tube = 43.16g
Mass of solid = Mass of solid and empty boiling tube Mass of empty boiling tube
Mass of solid = 4.72g
DISCUSSION
The reaction is a condensation polymerisation in which water is eliminated as the hydrogen atoms from
the ends of one amino-group from each of two urea molecules combine with the oxygen atom from a methanal
molecule. The remaining CH2 group from the methanal molecule then forms a bridge between two
neighbouring urea molecules, as shown below. This process, repeated many thousands of times, forms long
chains of urea and methanal molecules linked in this way.
Sometimes the second hydrogen atom on an amino-group will also react with a methanal molecule, producing a
branch in the chain, and chains may even become cross-linked to each other. Eventually a random threedimensional network of cross-linked chains is formed, giving a rigid structure and thus a hard, inflexible
material.

Because the tangle of cross-linked chains is almost impossible to separate, the material does not melt on
heating, although it will eventually break down at high temperature, decomposing and giving off small
molecules such as steam and nitrogen, leaving a charred mass which is largely carbon. The addition of the
sulphuric acid was to speed up the chemical reaction

PRECAUTIONS
1. Goggles were worn for eye protection.
2. Gloves were worn to protect the hands from the concentrated sulphuric acid.
3. The addition of sulphuric acid to the mixture was done in the fume chamber.

CONCLUSION
The addition of urea to methanal, with the addition of suphuric acid to produce urea resin was an
entirely successfully experiment. A yield of 4.72g was obtained for the urea resin
REFERENCES
1. Smith, Michael B.; March, Jerry (2007), Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and
Structure (6th ed.), New York: Wiley-Interscience,
2. Meyers, M. A.; Chawla, K. K. (1999). Mechanical Behavior of Materials. Cambridge University Press.
page 41
3. McCrum, N. G.; Buckley, C. P.; Bucknall, C. B. (1997). Principles of polymer engineering. Oxford;
New York: Oxford University Press. Page. 1
4. Cowie, J.M.G. (1991) Polymers: Chemistry and Physics of Modern Materials, Chapman and Hall, page.
4
5. Clayden, J., Greeves, N. and Warren, S. (2000). Organic chemistry, Oxford University Press, Pages.
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