| Themes > Science > Chemistry > Organic Chemistry > Organic Chemistry Index > Polymers > Condensation Polymerization |
A condensation polymerization occurs when a polymer is formed from a reaction that leaves behind a small molecule, often water. The formation of peptide bonds in proteins is an example of a condensation polymerization. In this case, an amine reacts with a carboxcylic acid to form an amide bond. Glycine is the simplest amino acid: the reaction below shows the reaction between two glycine molecules to form a glycine dimer. |
| the atoms in the red box drop away to form the water
molecule on the right. This is the reaction that is used for all amino
acids in the formation of proteins and is fundamental to life as we know
it.
A common industrial condensation polymerization is the formation of
Dacron, a polyester. In this case an alcohol
(in green) reacts with a carboxcylic
acid (in red)to form an ester
bond (in blue) and a water molecule drops away. |
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