POLYMER END-GROUP ANALYSIS: THE DETERMINATION OF AVERAGE

MOLECULAR WEIGHT

Background reading: This exercise uses a strong acid titration by a strong base with a visual
indicator. See; Harris, 7th ed., Chap. 11. Skoog, West, Holler and Crouch, 7th ed., Chap. 14.

Introduction
Polymers Polymers are a special form of macromolecules They are compounds of high molecular
weight formed by combining a large number of small molecules. The small molecules, called
monomers, may all be of one type, as in the compound used in this experiment, or may be of different
types.
Polymers are very important in biological systems. For example, proteins are composed of intricate
sequences of amino acids, and polysaccharides contain repeating units of simple sugar molecules.
Our everyday lives are also greatly influenced by polymers that are not obtained from natural
sources. Synthetic polymers are known to us as various fibers (e.g., Dacron), plastics (e.g., polyvinyl
chloride), abbreviated PVC, and polystyrene), and elastomers. See Fig. 1.
Like PVC and polystyrene, the compound involved in this experiment is synthesized from only one
kind of monomer molecule, ethylene glycol. The monomers are joined by elimination of a molecule of
water to form a series of ether linkages.
(n+2) HO-CH2-CH2-OH → HO-CH2-CH2-[O-CH2-CH2]n-O-CH2-CH2-OH + n H2O
The polymer is called either poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG for short), poly(ethylene oxide), or, more
properly, poly(oxyethylene). PEG is commonly found in the list of ingredients in hair preparations and
cosmetics. It is a good lubricant and also has the desirable property of being soluble in water.
Therefore, PEG is heavily used as a base for therapeutic ointments, and it is used industrially as a
lubricant in the formation of textile fibers and metal products.
Molecular Weight The physical properties of polymers
depend heavily on their molecular weights, which vary according
to the number of repeating monomer units (the n’s in the
structures in Fig. 1) per polymer molecule. For example, the
PEG molecules to be studied in this experiment have molecular
weights less than 1000 and are viscous liquids. As the molecular
weight increases, the compound is more grease-like, and, if the
MW is greater than about 6000, PEG is a white solid.
The use of the term “molecular weight” is somewhat misleading,
because it implies that a sample of a polymer has a uniform
formula weight (i.e., that n is the same for all the polymer
molecules in a sample). For many biopolymers, most notably
Figure 1. Examples of proteins, the sequence of the monomers is dictated by the
synthetic polymers and their specific biological role of the compound, and the structure and
monomers molecular weight is the same for all molecules of that type.
However, whenever a synthetic polymer is made, chains of
varying length (varying n’s) are produced, and the product has a range of formula weights. Therefore,
the “molecular weight” is really an average for the sample. To complicate the situation, there are
several types of averages, depending on how the molecular weight is measured.
In this experiment the number average molecular weight, M n , of a sample of poly(ethylene glycol)
will be determined. Conceptually M n is the simplest of the molecular weights, because it
corresponds to the usual notion of an average. The weights of all the molecules are added together
and then the sum is divided by the total number of molecules present. In symbolic form M n is given
 Polymer End Group Analysis; Page 2

by

∑N M i i
Mn = i
,
∑N i
i

where Ni is the number of moles of polymer with molecular weight Mi.

In the numerator each contributing molecular weight in the sample, called Mi, is multiplied by the
corresponding number of moles, Ni. The sum is then divided by the total number of moles in the
sample. Unfortunately, it is usually not possible to count up the number of moles of each chain length,
and the value of Mn must be obtained indirectly. You should recognize that the numerator is actually
the total mass of the sample in grams, and, as stated above, this is divided by the total number of
moles in the sample. Therefore, the number average molecular weight may be determined
experimentally by measuring the total number of moles of polymer in a known weight of
sample.
Determining Number of Moles To determine the number of moles of polymer the analysis method
must respond equally to each molecule without regard to its chain length. As the structures given
above show, the monomer molecules on the ends of the chain must in some way be different from
the chain itself. For a linear polymer (i.e., one in which there are no bonds, called crosslinks, between
the chains) every molecule has two end groups, which may be identical, as in PEG, or different, as in
Dacron. (For polymers such as PVC and polystyrene the identities of R and R’ depend on the choice
of reagent used to initiate the polymerization reaction.) Thus, if the end groups can be analyzed, the
number of polymer molecules may be calculated using simple stoichiometric relationships. This
method for determining M n is called end group analysis.

Some Specifics The ends

of PEG are alcohol groups,
which may be analyzed by a
reaction known as
esterification. In an
esterification the -OH reacts
with an organic acid, or, more
commonly, with a more
reactive derivative of the acid.
In this experiment the
anhydride of 1,2,4,5-
Figure 2. Reaction of PMDA with PEG to produce ester benzenetetracarboxylic acid,
known commonly as
pyromellitic dianhydride, or PMDA for short, will be used. The reaction with PEG is shown in Fig. 2.
The reaction must be conducted in a nonaqueous solvent, and, because of its low volatility and
desirable solvating properties, N,N-dimethyl formamide, DMF, is a good
choice. A catalyst is also required, and in many esterification procedures
pyridine, a rather foul-smelling organic base, is used. However, for the
reaction of alcohols with PMDA it has been found that imidazole, IMDA, a
very soluble solid with no odor, has at least equal catalyzing power. The
formulas of DMF and IMDA are shown below.
The analysis involves an indirect titration procedure. An excess of PMDA is
mixed with the weighed PEG sample, and the catalyst is added. After the
reaction is complete (at least one-half hour reaction time), water is added to
convert the unreacted anhydride groups to the acid form, and the acid is titrated with standard NaOH.
The equations in Fig. 3 show that each ester linkage to a PEG end group replaces one of the four
 Polymer End Group Analysis; Page 3

acids formed from the PMDA, and, as a result, the number of moles of titratable protons decreases
as the number of end groups increases. If the total number of moles of PMDA added at the start is
known, the number of moles of -OH end groups may be calculated from the volume of base needed
for the titration.
A standard solution of PMDA in DMF cannot be prepared directly by weighing and dilution. The
PMDA solution must be standardized by reacting a known volume with water and titrating with base.
It should be noted that the imidazole catalyst is itself a base, but it is so weak that it does not cause
an error in the titration. For consistent results, however, an equal amount of the catalyst should be
added to all samples.

Figure 3. Formation of acid by reaction with water

Another Molecular Weight As discussed above, there is more than one expression for the
average molecular weight of a polymer. The weight average molecular weight, M w , is given by

∑W M i i
Mw = i
,
∑W i
i

where Wi is the weight of polymer with molecular weight Mi. Here each M is multiplied by the weight
present in the sample, and the sum of all these contributions is divided by the total weight of the
sample. Unless the sample consists of only one chain length, M w is always greater than M n . The
ratio of M w to M n is called the polydispersity, and is an indication of the breadth of the distribution of
molecular weights in the sample.

Procedure
Note: Even though its volatility is low, you should avoid breathing DMF vapor, and you should
wash DMF off immediately if you get it on your skin.
Weigh a sufficient quantity of PMDA (FW=218.12) to prepare 100 mL of 0.2 M solution, and dry at
 Polymer End Group Analysis; Page 4

160°C for 2 hours. Dissolve the solid in 100 mL of DMF. Your glassware must be dry before you
start. Do not add any water to this solution or to any of the samples until specified in the
procedure. If it is necessary to store the solution for a week, obtain a small bottle from the stockroom
and line the cap with aluminum foil.
Obtain a sample of PEG and accurately weigh 0.20-0.24 g samples into each of four dry 125 mL
Erlenmeyer flasks. Note: With a viscous liquid sample it is not feasible to weigh by difference from a
weighing bottle. Instead, weigh the dry flask, add the appropriate amount of polymer from a dropper
(carefully, so as to deliver the sample to the bottom of the flask and not on the wall), and reweigh the
flask. The top door of the analytical balance is very convenient for this weighing operation.
Pipet 10 mL aliquots of the 0.2 M PMDA into each of the Erlenmeyers. Wash any PEG on the flask
wall to the bottom as the pipet drains. Avoid adding extra solvent, because the mixture may become
too dilute for the reaction to go to completion.
Use a Mohr pipet to add one mL of 3 M IMDA (prepared ahead by the laboratory staff) to each flask.
Mix the contents and allow one-half hour for the reaction. While waiting, proceed to the PMDA
standardization described below.
To standardize the PMDA solution pipet 10 mL aliquots into three Erlenmeyer flasks and add 1 mL of
the IMDA solution to each. Add 30 mL deionized water and phenolphthalein to each (no waiting
period required) and titrate with the standard 0.2 M NaOH.
After waiting 30 minutes, add 30 mL deionized water to each flask. Add phenolphthalein indicator,
and titrate with standard 0.2 M NaOH (prepared and standardized by laboratory staff).
Place all organic waste in the designated container.

Report
For each standardization titration calculate and report the result as molarity of titratable hydrogens.
Calculate and report the average molarity and the standard deviation.
Calculate and report M n for each aliquot of PEG, the average value of M n , and the standard
deviation.

Some Notes on Calculations

This experiment provides a good example of the usefulness of a back titration. The reaction
between PEG and PMDA is slow. It would not be practical to titrate PEG end groups directly with
PMDA. Adding an excess of PMDA and waiting 30 minutes drive the reaction to completion. The
excess PMDA (actually the excess reactive hydrogens of pyromellitic acid) is then titrated with
standard base. This reaction is rapid and thus suited to a titration with a visual end point.
You have not been provided with acid dissociation constants for pyromellitic acid. How do you know if
titration to a phenolphthalein end point involves reaction of 1, 2, 3 or 4 acid hydrogens? You do not
know, but you do not need to know because of the way the standardization and determination are
handled.