Question

Is rubber a primary metabolite or a secondary metabolite? Write four sentences about rubber.

Answer 1

Secondary metabolites:

Those compounds which are not involved in basic primary metabolic processes and have no direct function in growth and development of organisms, are called secondary metabolites.
Examples: Alkaloids, terpenoides, essential oils, toxins, lectins, drugs, polymeric substances etc.

Properties of rubber:

Rubber is a secondary metabolite (a polymeric substance).

• It is extracted from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis).
• It is the polymer of isoprene units.
• It has the following properties:
  • High tensile strength
  • Elasticity

These properties make it useful for making a variety of useful items like erasers, toys, gloves etc.

• It can be modified to have a rigid structure by addition of sulphur in a process called vulcanization. The modified rubber is used in production of tyres of vehicles.

Final answer: Secondary metabolite