Question

Which of the following polymers are condensation polymers?

Answer 1

Analysing the options

Option (A)

• Bakelite is formed by the condensation polymerisation process. Thus, it is a condensation polymer.
• This type of polymerisation involves a repetitive condensation reaction between two bi-functional monomers and may result in the loss of simple molecules like water.
• Bakelite is formed from phenol and formaldehyde.
• Phenol and formaldehyde get rearranged to form ortho and para-hydroxymethyl phenol derivatives.
• This derivative gets attached to each other by removing water molecule to form a linear polymer called “Novolac”.
• “Novolac” on heating with formaldehyde undergoes cross-linking by removing water molecules to form bakelite.

Option (B)

• Teflon or polytetrafluoroethylene is made by an addition polymerisation process and therefore it is an addition polymer.

Option (C)

• Butyl rubber is an addition polymer as it is formed by the addition polymerisation reaction.

Option (D)

• Melamine formaldehyde is an example of a condensation polymer.
• In melamine-formaldehyde resin, melamine and formaldehyde get added to form the resin intermediate, which undergoes condensation polymerisation by removing water molecules to get linked to each other and forming the polymer.

So, options (A) and (D) are the correct answers.