Answered: Teflon can be made from…

Chemistry for Engineering Students

4th Edition

ISBN:9781337398909

Author:Lawrence S. Brown, Tom Holme

Publisher:Lawrence S. Brown, Tom Holme

Chapter8: Molecules And Materials

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 9CO

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Question

Teflon can be made from tetrafluoroethylene by means of a free radical polymerization. In the reaction, termination occurs only by combination and not by disproportionation. Explain this observation.

Definition Definition Chemical process in which one or more monomers combine to produce a very large chain-like molecule called a polymer. The functional groups present on the monomers and their steric effects are responsible for polymerization through a sequence of reactions that vary in complexity. There exists a stable covalent chemical bond between monomers that sets apart polymerization from other processes.

Expert Solution

Step 1

The product of propagation step in free radical polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene to form the Teflon is given below:

It is noticed that there is no hydrogen on the adjacent carbon of either species to abstract. Therefore, the reaction does not terminate through the disproportionation step.

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