Question

Nylon is a well-known polymer used in fabrics and motor tyres. Nylon$-6,6$ is made from hexamethylenetetramine (having six methyl groups) and :

• A. adipic acid, a six-carbon chain fatty acid
• B. sulphurous acid with six atoms of various elements
• C. sulphure hexafluoride with six fluorine atoms
• D. cobalt hexamine cation with six ammonia ligands

Answer 1

The correct option is A adipic acid, a six-carbon chain fatty acid

Nylon is a generic name for a synthetic linear polymer with repeating amide groups $(-NH-CO-)$ which is used in the manufacture of textile fibres. Carothers produced Nylon-66 by the condensation reaction of adipic acid (a dicarboxylic acid with 6 carbon atoms) and hexamethylene-di-amine (a diamine with 6 carbon atoms) give the $[-NH-{\left(C{H}_2\right)}_6-NH-CO{\left(C{H}_2\right)}_4-CO-]$ repeating unit. Nylon revolutionised the textile industry and was the forerunner for many of today's modern, synthetic fabrics.