Question

Draw the structure of the monomer and the basic repeating unit for each of the following polymeric substances. a. polyethylene b. polyvinyl chloride c. Teflon d. polypropylene e. polystyrene

Short answer

The structures of the monomers and basic repeating units for the given polymers are as follows: a. Polyethylene: Monomer: H H /C=C/ H H Repeating unit: H H /-C-C-/ H H b. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): Monomer: H Cl /C=C/ H H Repeating unit: H Cl /-C-C-/ H H c. Teflon: Monomer: F F /C=C/ F F Repeating unit: F F /-C-C-/ F F d. Polypropylene: Monomer: H H CH3 /C=C-C/ H H Repeating unit: H H CH3 /-C-C-C-/ H H e. Polystyrene: Monomer: H H /C=C-C-(benzene ring)/ H H Repeating unit: H H /-C-C-C-(benzene ring)/ H H

Step-by-step solution

a. Polyethylene

Polyethylene is a polymer made from the monomer ethylene. The basic structure of ethylene is \(C_2H_4\). In the polymerization process, ethylene molecules bond together, forming a long chain. Monomer structure: H H | | C=C | | H H Basic repeating unit in polyethylene: H H | | -C-C- | | H H

b. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a polymer made from the monomer vinyl chloride. The basic structure of vinyl chloride is \(CH_2=CHCl\). In the polymerization process, vinyl chloride molecules bond together, forming a long chain. Monomer structure: H Cl | | C=C | | H H Basic repeating unit in polyvinyl chloride: H Cl | | -C-C- | | H H

c. Teflon

Teflon is a brand name for the polymer polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is made from the monomer tetrafluoroethylene (TFE). The basic structure of tetrafluoroethylene is \(C_2F_4\). In the polymerization process, TFE molecules bond together, forming a long chain. Monomer structure: F F | | C=C | | F F Basic repeating unit in Teflon: F F | | -C-C- | | F F

d. Polypropylene

Polypropylene is a polymer made from the monomer propylene. The basic structure of propylene is \((CH_2)_2CH_3\). In the polymerization process, propylene molecules bond together, forming a long chain. Monomer structure: H H CH3 | | | C=C-C | | H H Basic repeating unit in polypropylene: H H CH3 | | | -C-C-C- | | H H

e. Polystyrene

Polystyrene is a polymer made from the monomer styrene. The basic structure of styrene is \((CH_2)CHC_6H_5\). In the polymerization process, styrene molecules bond together, forming a long chain. Monomer structure: H H | | C=C-C-(benzene ring) | | H H Basic repeating unit in polystyrene: H H | | -C-C-C-(benzene ring) | | H H