Hydrolysing: Condensation polymers can be hydrolysed using hot aqueous alkali e.g. sodium
hydroxide OR hot dilute aqueous acid e.g. HCl.
Wherever there is an amide or ester bond, can break it apart and forms products either side of
it. Add water on.
5) Hydrolysing Polyesters:
6) Hydrolysing Polyamides:
With acid hydrolysis, if N in original compound, it will actually be NH2+ not NH3+, gains 2H. Will
get N rather than NH when in a cyclic compound usually or tertiary structure because N can have
maximum 3 bonds.
Also with acid hydrolysis, if NH in the compound but not part of an amide bond, it gains one H
and charge to form NH2+ after acid hydrolysis.
Acid protonates any amine group- adds a H+ on.