Question

What happens to polyester slacks if aqueous NaOH is spilled on them?

Short answer

The polyester slacks hydrolyze to produce salt of dicarboxylic acid and diols.

The reaction is given below.

Step-by-step solution

Polyester

Dacron is a kind of step-growth polymer termed polyesters. The wrinkle-resistant character of fabrics is due to polyester. The transesterification reaction of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol generates the polymer Dacron.

Explanation of what happens to polyester slacks if aqueous NaOH is spilled on them 

Polymers with ester groups are polyesters. An example of polyester is Dacron.

The reaction happens when NaOH spills on polyester and can be given as follows.

The product obtained in this reaction are diols and dicarboxylic acids.

The reaction takes place when an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide spills on a polyester.