Discuss the three isomers of polypropene.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Isotactic polypropene has all methyl groups on the same side of the polymer backbone, making it crystalline and high melting. Syndiotactic polypropene has alternating methyl groups, and it also crystalline and high melting but less common. Atactic polypropene has a random distribution of methyl groups, making it amorphous and low melting.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Structure of Polypropene

Polypropene is a polymer of propene, which has a molecular formula of C3H6. It contains a carbon-carbon double bond, which permits two types of polymerization: isotactic, when the methyl groups (CH3) are on the same side, and syndiotactic, when the methyls alternate. The unbranched form, also called atactic, will also be considered.
02

Discussing Isotactic Polypropene

In isotactic polypropene, all the methyl groups are on the same side of the polymer backbone. This arrangement results in a highly ordered structure, which makes isotactic polypropene crystalline and high melting. It's used widely in applications that require heat resistance.
03

Analyzing Syndiotactic Polypropene

In syndiotactic polypropene, the methyl groups alternate sides along the polymer backbone. Like isotactic, the syndiotactic form has a highly regular structure, which makes it also crystalline and high melting. However, it's less common than the isotactic form.
04

Elaborating Atactic Polypropene

Atactic polypropene, which has a random arrangement of methyl groups along the polymer backbone, is amorphous and low melting because it lacks any regular structure. It's not widely used due to its low strength and heat resistance.

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.

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

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free