Question 25.2: Kevlar, a condensation polymer used in bulletproof vests, ha...
Kevlar, a condensation polymer used in bulletproof vests, has the following general structure:
Write the structure of the two monomers that form Kevlar
Strategy Identify the condensation linkages, split them apart, and then add \text{H} to one of the resulting exposed bonds and \text{OH} to the other.
Setup Kevlar contains an amide (linkage between \begin{matrix} \text{O} \\ \parallel \\ \text{C} \end {matrix} and \text{N} ). We split the \text{C—N} bond, adding an \text{H} to the exposed \text{N} and an \text{OH} to the exposed \text{C} to produce an amine and a carboxylic acid, respectively.
To determine what the monomers are, first remove the \text{C—N} bond:
Next, add \text{H}_2\text{O} as \text{H} to the \text{N} and \text{OH} to the \text{C}:
Finally, add the components of another water molecule to the open ends of the molecules\text{—H} to \text{N} and \text{OH} to \text{C}, as before:
