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Chapter 29: Problem 27

Polymerization of vinyl acetate gives poly(vinyl acetate). Hydrolysis of this polymer in aqueous sodium hydroxide gives the useful water-soluble polymer poly(vinyl alcohol). Draw the repeat units of both poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl alcohol).

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The repeat unit for poly(vinyl acetate) is [-CH2-CH(OCOCH3)-]_{n}, and the repeat unit for poly(vinyl alcohol) is [-CH2-CH(OH)-]_{n}.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the structure of vinyl acetate

Vinyl acetate is an organic compound with the formula CH3COOCH=CH2. It consists of a vinyl group (CH=CH2) bonded to an acetate group (CH3COO).
02

Draw the repeat unit of poly(vinyl acetate)

Poly(vinyl acetate) is formed by the polymerization of vinyl acetate monomers. During this process, the double bond in the vinyl group opens up and forms a single bond with another vinyl acetate molecule. This process repeats, creating a long chain of vinyl acetate molecules. The repeat unit for poly(vinyl acetate) can be represented as: [-CH2-CH(OCOCH3)-]_{n} In this formula, the square brackets denote the repeat unit and "n" represents the number of repeating units in the polymer chain.
03

Understand the hydrolysis process of poly(vinyl acetate)

During the hydrolysis process, poly(vinyl acetate) reacts with water and sodium hydroxide, which breaks the ester linkages of the acetate groups and replaces them with hydroxyl groups (OH) to form poly(vinyl alcohol).
04

Draw the repeat unit of poly(vinyl alcohol)

After the hydrolysis process, the acetate groups in the poly(vinyl acetate) are replaced by hydroxyl groups. The repeat unit for poly(vinyl alcohol) can be represented as: [-CH2-CH(OH)-]_{n} In this formula, the square brackets denote the repeat unit, and "n" represents the number of repeating units in the polymer chain.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Draw a structural formula of the polymer resulting from base-catalyzed polymerization of each compound. Would you expect the polymers to be optically active? \((S)-(+)\)-lactide is the dilactone formed from two molecules of \((S)\) - \((+)\)-lactic acid.

The most widely used synthetic rubber is a copolymer of styrene and butadiene called SB rubber. Ratios of butadiene to styrene used in polymerization vary depending on the end use of the polymer. The ratio used most commonly in the preparation of SB rubber for use in automobile tires is 1 mole styrene to 3 moles butadiene. Draw a structural formula of a section of the polymer formed from this ratio of reactants. Assume that all carbon-carbon double bonds in the polymer chain are in the cis configuration.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) has a higher degree of chain branching than highdensity polyethylene (HDPE). Explain the relationship between chain branching and density.

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Polycarbonates (Section 29.5C) are also formed by using a nucleophilic aromatic substitution route (Section 22.3B) involving aromatic difluoro monomers and carbonate ion. Propose a mechanism for this reaction.
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