plumiCondensation polymers: AQA A‑Level Chemistry questions
AQA A-Level Chemistry past-paper questions on 3.3.12.1 Condensation polymers, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q03.7
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All 50 questions on Condensation polymers, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q03.7 (4 marks): The polymer nylon 6,6 can be made from hexanedioyl dichloride and hexane-1,6-diamine. Figure 2 shows an incomplete mechanism for the first steps in this reactio
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q03.8 (4 marks): The polymer nylon 6 can be made by heating caprolactam with water. Figure 3 shows the species involved in the first three steps of the mechanism for this reacti
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q28 (1 mark): Which statement concerning nylon-6,6 is correct? [1 mark] A Butanedioic acid is one of the reactants used to make nylon-6,6 B Nylon-6,6 is an addition polymer.
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q32 (1 mark): In which polymer does hydrogen bonding occur between the polymer chains? [1 mark] A a polyalkene B a polyamide C a polychloroalkene D a polyester
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q04.5 (2 marks): An incomplete equation for the formation of nylon 4,6 from five molecules of butane-1,4-diamine and five molecules of hexanedioic acid is shown. Deduce the valu
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q04.6 (2 marks): Figure 6 shows a section of the nylon 4,6 polymer molecule. Figure 6 Draw, on Figure 6, another section of nylon 4,6 polymer showing two hydrogen bonds between
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q27 (1 mark): Suberoyl chloride, ClOC(CH2)6COCl, is commonly used in the manufacture of polymers. Which compound can form a polymer with suberoyl chloride? [1 mark] A H2NCH2C
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q28 (1 mark): Which polymer is not hydrolysed when heated with aqueous alkali? [1 mark] A Kevlar B Nylon 6,6 C Poly(propene) D Terylene
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q01.1 (2 marks): Ethanedioic acid reacts with propane-1,3-diol (HOCH2CH2CH2OH) to form a polyester. Draw the repeating unit of this polyester. [2 marks]
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q24 (1 mark): Which polymer has hydrogen bonding between the polymer chains? [1 mark] A Kevlar B PVC C poly(phenylethene) D Terylene
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q33 (1 mark): Which is the repeating unit of a polyamide? [1 mark] A B C D
- November 2020, Paper 3, Q29 (1 mark): Which forms a polymer with ClOC(CH2)8COCl? [1 mark] A NH2CH2CH2NH2 B (CH3CO)2O C CH3CH2CONH2 D NH2CH2COOH
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q28 (1 mark): Which polymer has hydrogen bonding between its chains? [1 mark] A Kevlar B Polythene C PVC D Terylene
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q11.2 (1 mark): Draw the structure of the isomer of C6H16N2 used to make nylon 6,6 [1 mark]
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q21 (1 mark): The repeating unit of a polymer is shown. Which monomer or pair of monomers could be used to make this polymer? [1 mark] A ClOC(CH2)4NH2 only B ClOC(CH2)4COCl o
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q22 (1 mark): The structure of part of a polyester chain is shown. Which statement correctly explains why plastics made from this polyester only soften at high temperatures?
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q10.6 (3 marks): The action of heat on 5-hydroxyhexanoic acid can lead to two different products. On gentle heating, 5-hydroxyhexanoic acid loses water to form a cyclic compound
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q10.7 (3 marks): Isomer U is shown. The polymer formed by U and the polymer formed by 5-hydroxyhexanoic acid in Question 10.6 both contain ester groups that can be hydrolysed. D
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q25 (1 mark): Which compound can form a polymer without needing another reagent? [1 mark] A HOCH2CH2OH B HOOCCH2CH2COOH C HOCH2CH2COCl D ClCH2CH2COOH
- Specimen, Paper 2, Q07.2 (2 marks): Structure of compound 1 Structure of compound 2
- Specimen, Paper 3, Q33 (1 mark): Which compound can polymerise by reaction with itself? [1 mark] A NH2CH2CH2NH2 B CH3CH2CONH2 C HOOCCH2COOH D NH2CH2COCl 3 3
- June 2016, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(d)(i) (1 mark): Draw the repeating unit of PGA. [1 mark]
- June 2016, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(d)(ii) (1 mark): Production of PGA occurs via a cyclic compound. Two HOCH2COOH molecules react together to form the cyclic compound and two molecules of water. Draw the structur
- June 2015, CHEM4 (old spec), Q7(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give the IUPAC name of the monomer that forms polymer M. [1 mark]
- June 2015, CHEM4 (old spec), Q7(b)(iii) (1 mark): Draw the section of a polymer made from a dicarboxylic acid and a diamine that is isomeric with the section of polymer M shown. [1 mark]
- June 2014, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(a) (1 mark): Name the strongest type of interaction between polymer chains of Kevlar. [1 mark]
- June 2014, CHEM4 (old spec), Q8(a)(ii) (2 marks): HOCH2CH2CH2CH2COCl can also react to form a polyester in a mechanism similar to that in Question 8 (a) (i). Draw the repeating unit of the polyester and name th
- June 2013, CHEM4 (old spec), Q5(d)(i) (2 marks): Draw a section of PLA that shows two repeating units. (2 marks)
- June 2013, CHEM4 (old spec), Q5(d)(ii) (1 mark): Name the type of condensation polymer in PLA. (1 mark)
- June 2013, CHEM4 (old spec), Q5(d)(iii) (1 mark): An intermediate in the production of PLA is a cyclic compound (C6H8O4) that is formed from two PLA molecules. Draw the structure of this cyclic compound. (1 mar
- January 2013, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Name this type of polymer. (1 mark)
- January 2013, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give the IUPAC name for the alcohol used to prepare this polyester. (1 mark)
- January 2013, CHEM4 (old spec), Q7(a) (5 marks): Consider the following conversion. Identify a reducing agent for this conversion. Write a balanced equation for the reaction using molecular formulae for the ni
- June 2012, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Name the diol used. (1 mark)
- June 2012, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Draw the displayed formula of the diacyl chloride used. (1 mark)
- June 2012, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(b)(iii) (3 marks): A shirt was made from this polyester. A student wearing the shirt accidentally splashed aqueous sodium hydroxide on a sleeve. Holes later appeared in the sleeve
- June 2012, CHEM4 (old spec), Q5(e)(iii) (1 mark): Draw a structural isomer of X that has an unbranched carbon chain and can be polymerised to form a polyamide. (1 mark)
- January 2012, CHEM4 (old spec), Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Type of condensation polymer Common name (2 marks) CH2 C CH2 O O O C O
- January 2012, CHEM4 (old spec), Q8(b)(ii) (2 marks): Type of condensation polymer Common name (2 marks) N C C H O O N H
- January 2012, CHEM4 (old spec), Q8(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why the polymer in part (b) (ii) has a higher melting point than the polymer in part (b) (i). (2 marks)
- June 2011, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(a)(i) (2 marks): Draw the repeating unit of the polyamide formed by the reaction of propanedioic acid with hexane-1,6-diamine. (2 marks)
- June 2011, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(a)(ii) (3 marks): In terms of the intermolecular forces between the polymer chains, explain why polyamides can be made into fibres suitable for use in sewing and weaving, whereas
- January 2011, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Draw a section of the polymer showing two repeating units. (1 mark)
- January 2011, CHEM4 (old spec), Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Name the type of polymerisation involved. (1 mark)
- June 2010, CHEM4 (old spec), Q7(e) (4 marks): Draw the repeating unit of the polyester Terylene that is made from benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and ethane-1,2-diol. Although Terylene is biodegradeable, it i
- January 2010, CHEM4 (old spec), Q8(c)(ii) (2 marks): This diamine is then reacted with benzene-l,4-dicarboxylic acid to form Kevlar. Draw the repeating unit of Kevlar. (2 marks)
- June 2008, CHM4 (2008 spec), Q4(a) (3 marks): 4 (a) A polymer is formed when propane-l,3-diamine reacts with pentanedioic acid. Name the type of polymerisation reaction which occurs and draw the structure o
- January 2008, CHM4 (2008 spec), Q5(a) (4 marks): (a) (i) Polymer P is formed from the single amino acid, 2-aminopropanoic acid. Draw the structure of the zwitterion of this amino acid. (ii) One other polymer r
- January 2008, CHM4 (2008 spec), Q5(c) (3 marks): (c) Polymers T and U are polyesters. (i) Draw the structures of the monomers used to produce polymer T. First monomer Second monomer (ii) Draw the structure of
- January 2008, CHM4 (2008 spec), Q5(d) (2 marks): (d) (i) Name the strongest type of intermolecular force in polymer R. (ii) Name the strongest type of intermolecular force in polymer T. (2 marks)
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