Question

Which of the following monomers could form an addition polymer? A condensation polymer? (a) \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{6}\) (b) \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{4}\) (c) \(\mathrm{HO}-\mathrm{CH}_{2}-\mathrm{CH}_{2}-\mathrm{OH}\) (d) \(\mathrm{HO}-\mathrm{CH}_{2}-\mathrm{CH}_{3}\)

Short answer

Answer: Monomer (b) C2H4 can form an addition polymer, and monomer (c) HO-CH2-CH2-OH can form a condensation polymer. Monomers (a) and (d) cannot form either type of polymer.

Step-by-step solution

Monomer (a) \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{6}\) #

Monomer (a) does not have a double bond or any functional group to participate in addition or condensation polymer formation. So, it cannot form either an addition polymer or a condensation polymer.

Monomer (b) \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{4}\) #

Monomer (b) has a double bond between carbon atoms, which can participate in addition polymer formation. So, it can form an addition polymer, but it cannot form a condensation polymer since it lacks the necessary functional groups.

Monomer (c) \(\mathrm{HO}-\mathrm{CH}_{2}-\mathrm{CH}_{2}-\mathrm{OH}\) #

Monomer (c) contains two hydroxyl (-OH) functional groups at both ends. These functional groups can react with each other to form a condensation polymer with the elimination of water molecules. However, it cannot form an addition polymer as it does not have a double bond.

Monomer (d) \(\mathrm{HO}-\mathrm{CH}_{2}-\mathrm{CH}_{3}\) #

Monomer (d) contains a hydroxyl (-OH) functional group at one end, but it does not have any functional group at the other end to form a condensation polymer. Moreover, it does not have a double bond to form an addition polymer. So, it cannot form either an addition polymer or a condensation polymer. To sum up, monomer (b) can form an addition polymer, and monomer (c) can form a condensation polymer, while monomers (a) and (d) cannot form either type of polymer.