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🧪 Chemistry  ·  Polymers  ·  NEET & JEE

The biodegradable polymer nylon-2-nylon-6 is made from the monomers:

Answer: Glycine and amino caproic acid.

  • A Glycine and amino caproic acid
  • B Adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine
  • C Lactic acid and glycolic acid
  • D Hydroxybutyric and hydroxyvaleric acid

Correct answer: A. Glycine and amino caproic acid

Explanation: Nylon-2-nylon-6 is an alternating polyamide of glycine (H<sub>2</sub>N-CH<sub>2</sub>-COOH) and amino caproic acid, and is biodegradable.

Addition vs Condensation PolymerisationAddition (e.g. polythene)n (CH₂=CH₂)-[-CH₂-CH₂-]ₙ-No atoms lost - monomers just join at the double bondCondensation (e.g. Nylon-6,6)HOOC-R-COOH + H₂N-R'-NH₂-[-CO-R-CO-NH-R'-NH-]ₙ-+ n H₂OA small molecule (water here) is eliminated at EVERY linking step

Addition polymerisation simply links monomers containing a double bond with nothing left over, while condensation polymerisation joins two different monomers through a reaction (often forming an ester or amide bond) that releases a small molecule like water at each step.

Concept context

Large molecules made of repeating monomer units. Covers addition and condensation polymerisation, natural and synthetic polymers (nylon, PVC, Bakelite, natural rubber), and their real-world industrial applications.

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