Question

When formaldehyde is heated with phenol in the presence of an alkali, the product formed is:

• A. rubber
• B. bakelite
• C. chloroprene
• D. neoprene

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

bakelite

Bakelite forms in a condensation reaction of phenol and formaldehyde, with wood flour or asbestos fiber as a filler, under high pressure and heat in a time frame of a few minutes of curing. The result is a hard plastic material.

Molecular Formula :$(C_6{H}_{6}O.C{H}_{2}O{)}_n$

Making Bakelite was a multi-stage process. It began with the heating of phenol and formaldehyde in the presence of a catalyst such as hydrochloric acid, zinc chloride, or the base ammonia