Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 22: Problem 85

Polystyrene can be made more rigid by copolymerizing styrene with divinylbenzene: How does the divinylbenzene make the copolymer more rigid?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Divinylbenzene makes the copolymer more rigid by acting as a cross-linker between the polymer chains during copolymerization. This creates bridges between chains, restricting their movement and leading to an overall increased rigidity and strength in the copolymer compared to regular polystyrene.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the structures of styrene and divinylbenzene

Styrene is an organic compound with the chemical formula C8H8. Its molecular structure consists of a vinyl group (C=C) attached to a phenyl ring (C6H5). Divinylbenzene, on the other hand, is an organic compound with two vinyl groups attached to a benzene ring. Its chemical formula is C10H10.
02

Copolymerization

Copolymerization is a chemical process in which two or more different types of monomers (i.e., styrene and divinylbenzene) are combined together to form a larger molecule, the polymer (copolymer). In this case, styrene and divinylbenzene are mixed, and the polymerization reaction is initiated to form a copolymer, which has both styrene and divinylbenzene units in its structure.
03

Cross-linking formation

One of the key aspects of copolymerization in this case is the formation of cross-links between the polymer chains. Due to the presence of two vinyl groups in the divinylbenzene molecule, it can act as a ''cross-linker'' between different polymer chains. During the polymerization process, one vinyl group from divinylbenzene reacts with a styrene unit to form a bond, while the other vinyl group can react with a different styrene unit, thus forming a bridge between two polymer chains.
04

Increased rigidity in the copolymer

The cross-links formed by the divinylbenzene molecules make the final copolymer more rigid. This is because cross-linking restricts the movement of the polymer chains, making it more difficult for them to slide past each other. The increased number of connections between the chains results in a more rigid structure, which then translates to the overall rigidity of the material. In conclusion, divinylbenzene makes polystyrene more rigid when copolymerized together because it acts as a cross-linker, forming bridges between the polymer chains and restricting their movement. This results in a more rigid and stronger copolymer with improved mechanical properties compared to regular polystyrene.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Polyesters containing double bonds are often crosslinked by reacting the polymer with styrene. a. Draw the structure of the copolymer of $\mathrm{HO}-\mathrm{CH}_{2} \mathrm{CH}_{2}-\mathrm{OH} \quad\( and \)\quad \mathrm{HO}_{2} \mathrm{C}-\mathrm{CH}=\mathrm{CH}-\mathrm{CO}_{2} \mathrm{H}$ b. Draw the structure of the crosslinked polymer (after the polyester has been reacted with styrene).

Estradiol is a female hormone with the following structure: How many chiral carbon atoms are in estradiol?

The base sequences in mRNA that code for certain amino acids are Glu: GAA, GAG Val: GUU, GUC, GUA, GUG Met: AUG Trp: UGG Phe: UUU, UUC Asp: GAU, GAC These sequences are complementary to the sequences in DNA. a. Give the corresponding sequences in DNA for the amino acids listed above. b. Give a DNA sequence that would code for the peptide trp–glu–phe–met. c. How many different DNA sequences can code for the tetrapeptide in part b? d. What is the peptide that is produced from the DNA sequence T–A–C–C–T–G–A–A–G? e. What other DNA sequences would yield the same tripeptide as in part d?

Name all of the aldehydes and ketones that have the formula $\mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{8} \mathrm{O}$ .

Draw a structural formula for each of the following compounds. a. 2-methylpropane b. 2-methylbutane c. 2-methylpentane d. 2-methylhexane
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Organic Chemistry

Read Explanation

The Earths Atmosphere

Read Explanation

Ionic and Molecular Compounds

Read Explanation

Nuclear Chemistry

Read Explanation

Chemical Reactions

Read Explanation

Chemical Analysis

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free