(b) Which of these molecules can
be used as a monomer: ethanol, e...

Question

(b) Which of these molecules can
be used as a monomer: ethanol, ethene (also called ethylene),
methane?

Accepted Answer

welcome back everyone in this example. All the following can be used as monomers except for the below. So we're going to need to recall what a monomer is, recall that it's a small molecule which consists of repeating units of a polymer joined by chemical bonds. And we want to recall that a polymer is just a long change structure. So it's a larger molecule that consists of these linked monomers. Now going to our answer choices, we have for choice a ethylene. We want to recall that ethylene or even ethane is commonly used to make polyethylene, where polyethylene is a polymer of our monomers, ethylene or methane. And so we would definitely say that A. Is definitely a choice that can create A or that can be used as a monomer to create a polymer. So moving onto choice B. We have ethanol. So we want to recognize in our name for ethanol, we have this all ending which tells us that we have an O. H. Known as an alcohol group. And because we have the presence of this alcohol group. Sorry, this says group here, we will not be able to form polymer chains. And so ethanol cannot be used as a monomer. We will considered as an answer choice since we're choosing everything that is except a monomer. So let's move on to choice C. We have styrene. So aside from polyethylene as we listed for choice A. We should recognize that We also have a polymer known as polystyrene. And so that means if we can create polystyrene styrene is definitely something that can be used as a monomer to make our polymer polystyrene. So C. Is also definitely a confirmed monomer that can create polymers. Moving onto choice day, we have vinyl chloride. So we want to recall something known as PVC, which is our polyvinyl chloride. And this is also another polymer example meaning choice D vinyl card can definitely be used as a monomer in choice. E. We have ethylene glycol or 12 ethane dial. Now take note of the fact that we have this ending which states die all where di tells us we have to oh H groups. So we have two alcohol groups. Sorry, that's alcohol groups. And when we have two alcohol groups, we can definitely make something known as polly esters. And so choice E would actually be able to be used as a monomer choice. E. Is definitely a monomer. And so what we can confirm is that we would rule out choices A, C. D and E. Because they all are able to be used as monomers. The only one that we said is not able to be used as monomer is ethanol. And that is because it just consists of one alcohol group and this alcohol group cannot form a polymer chain on its own. We would need at least two or more. So B is our final answer. I hope everything I reviewed was clear. If you have any questions, leave them down below and I will see everyone in the next practice video

(b) Which of these molecules can be used as a monomer: ethanol, ethene (also called ethylene), methane?

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