Q: What is an elastomer?
A: A polymer with elastic properties, meaning it can return to its original shape after being stretched or deformed.
Q: What is a common example of an elastomer?
A: Natural rubber.
Q: What is a hydrogel?
A: A polymer network that can absorb and retain large amounts of water.
Q: What is an example of a hydrogel?
A: Sodium polyacrylate, which is used in diapers.
Q: What is a dendrimer?
A: A highly branched, tree-like polymer with a well-defined structure.
Q: What is a tacticity?
A: Tacticity refers to the arrangement of chiral centers in a polymer chain, specifically the relative configuration of side groups.
Q: What are the three types of tacticity?
A: Isotactic, syndiotactic, and atactic.
Q: What is an isotactic polymer?
A: A polymer in which all the side groups have the same stereochemistry (e.g., all on the same side of the polymer backbone).
Q: What is a syndiotactic polymer?
A: A polymer in which the side groups have an alternating stereochemistry along the polymer backbone.
Q: What is an atactic polymer?
A: A polymer in which the side groups have a random stereochemistry along the polymer backbone.
Q: What is a biodegradable polymer?
A: A polymer that can be broken down into smaller molecules by biological processes, such as by microorganisms.
Q: What is an example of a biodegradable polymer?
A: Polylactic acid (PLA).
Q: What is a polymer’s molecular weight?
A: The sum of the atomic weights of all the atoms in a polymer molecule.
Q: What is the significance of a polymer’s molecular weight distribution?
A: The molecular weight distribution affects the properties of a polymer, such as its mechanical strength, processability, and crystallinity.
Q: What is the process of breaking down a polymer into its monomers called?
A: Depolymerization.
Q: What is a polymer’s molar mass?
A: The mass of one mole of polymer molecules, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol).
Q: What is a common method for determining the molecular weight of a polymer?
A: Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) or size exclusion chromatography (SEC).
Q: What is the role of a catalyst in polymerization reactions?
A: A catalyst lowers the activation energy required for the reaction, increasing the rate of polymerization.
Q: What is an example of a catalyst used in the polymerization of ethylene?
A: Ziegler-Natta catalyst.
Submitted by :- Jamil Ahmed