Question

Question: The complete hydrogenation of natural rubber (the addition of to all double bonds) gives a product that is indistinguishable from the product of the complete hydrogenation of gutta-percha. Explain how this strengthens the conclusion that these two substances are isomers of each other.

Short answer

Natural rubber and gutta-percha has a geometrical relationship. Both undergoes hydrogenation to give identical products.

Step-by-step solution

Hydrogenation reaction

Hydrogenation reaction is the addition reaction of hydrogen to all the double bonds.In this reaction, the double bonds break and converts into single bonds.

Step 2: Identical products formed after hydrogenation

There is only a single difference between natural rubber and gutta-percha. Both of them have a geometrical relationship with each other, i.e., natural rubber is a cis-isomer and guuta-percha is a trans-isomer. If this is only difference between both of these polymers at the repeated double bonds, then hydrogenation reaction must give identical products.