Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

36. Synthetic Polymers

Introduction to Polymers

Organic Chemistry

36. Synthetic Polymers

Introduction to Polymers

Previous problemNext problem

Struggling with Organic Chemistry?

Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video

Multiple Choice

How many molecules of water are needed to completely hydrolyze a polymer that is ten monomers long?

Previous problemNext problem

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the concept of hydrolysis: Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction where water is used to break down the bonds of a particular substance. In the case of polymers, hydrolysis breaks the bonds between monomers.

Identify the structure of the polymer: A polymer is made up of repeating units called monomers. If a polymer is ten monomers long, it means there are 10 monomer units connected by covalent bonds.

Determine the number of bonds between monomers: In a linear polymer chain of ten monomers, there are 9 bonds connecting these monomers (since each bond connects two monomers).

Apply the concept of hydrolysis: Each bond between monomers requires one molecule of water to be broken. Therefore, the number of water molecules needed is equal to the number of bonds.

Calculate the number of water molecules: Since there are 9 bonds in a polymer that is ten monomers long, 9 molecules of water are needed to completely hydrolyze the polymer.