When forming a nylon polymer, a molecule with two groups and a molecule with two groups undergo a condensation reaction.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: A molecule with two amine groups and a molecule with two carboxylic acid groups undergo a condensation reaction.
Explanation:
Nylon is a type of synthetic polymer known as a polyamide, created through a condensation polymerization reaction. This type of reaction involves the combination of two different monomers with the release of a small molecule, typically water. In the formation of nylon, the two types of monomers involved are:
- A diamine – a molecule that contains two amine (-NH₂) functional groups.
- A dicarboxylic acid – a molecule that contains two carboxylic acid (-COOH) functional groups.
During the condensation process, one amine group from the diamine reacts with one carboxylic acid group from the dicarboxylic acid. This reaction forms an amide bond (also called a peptide bond in biological systems) and releases a water molecule. This process repeats itself at both ends of the growing polymer chain, resulting in a long chain of repeating units connected by amide bonds.
For example, nylon-6,6 is made by reacting hexamethylenediamine (which has two amine groups) with adipic acid (which has two carboxylic acid groups). Each pair of functional groups forms one amide bond and releases one water molecule. The name “nylon-6,6” comes from the fact that both monomers have six carbon atoms.
The resulting nylon polymer has strong intermolecular forces, especially hydrogen bonding between the amide groups. This makes the material durable, flexible, and resistant to wear and chemicals, making it useful in fabrics, ropes, and engineering plastics. The process demonstrates how combining simple molecules through condensation reactions can form complex, high-strength materials.