Bakelite, the first commercially produced polymer , contains monomer units of phenol and formaldehyde. If an item made of Bakelite were broken, it could not be melted down and reformed. Is Bakelite a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer? Can Bakelite be recycled?

Question

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Answer 1

Textbook Question

Chapter 12, Problem 1QP

Bakelite, the first commercially produced polymer, contains monomer units of phenol and formaldehyde. If an item made of Bakelite were broken, it could not be melted down and reformed. Is Bakelite a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer? Can Bakelite be recycled?

Expert Solution & Answer

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The polymer type(thermoplastic or thermosetting) of Bakelite is to be determined and whether it can be recycled or not is to be stated.

Concept introduction:

A thermoplastic becomes soft on heating and can be remolded and reshaped.

Thermosetting plastics are permanent solids, and hence cannot be remolded or reshaped.

Answer to Problem 1QP

Solution: Bakelite is a thermosetting polymerand cannot be recycled easily.

Explanation of Solution

Thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics are two different classes of polymers, which are distinguished on the basis of their behavior when subjected toheat. Thermoplastics have lower melting points and become soft by the effect of heat. They can be remolded and reshaped to a new material, and henceit can be recycled.

However, thermoset plastics have a high melting point. They are permanent solids, and once hardened, they cannot be remolded and reshaped. Hence, they cannot be recycled.

Bakelite shows the properties similar to thermosetting plastics, and hence cannot be recycled.

Conclusion

Hence, the polymer type of Bakelite is thermosetting polymerand Bakelite cannot be recycled easily.

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Answer 2

Textbook Question

Chapter 12, Problem 1QP

Bakelite, the first commercially produced polymer, contains monomer units of phenol and formaldehyde. If an item made of Bakelite were broken, it could not be melted down and reformed. Is Bakelite a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer? Can Bakelite be recycled?

Expert Solution & Answer

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The polymer type(thermoplastic or thermosetting) of Bakelite is to be determined and whether it can be recycled or not is to be stated.

Concept introduction:

A thermoplastic becomes soft on heating and can be remolded and reshaped.

Thermosetting plastics are permanent solids, and hence cannot be remolded or reshaped.

Answer to Problem 1QP

Solution: Bakelite is a thermosetting polymerand cannot be recycled easily.

Explanation of Solution

Thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics are two different classes of polymers, which are distinguished on the basis of their behavior when subjected toheat. Thermoplastics have lower melting points and become soft by the effect of heat. They can be remolded and reshaped to a new material, and henceit can be recycled.

However, thermoset plastics have a high melting point. They are permanent solids, and once hardened, they cannot be remolded and reshaped. Hence, they cannot be recycled.

Bakelite shows the properties similar to thermosetting plastics, and hence cannot be recycled.

Conclusion

Hence, the polymer type of Bakelite is thermosetting polymerand Bakelite cannot be recycled easily.

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Answer 3

Textbook Question

Chapter 12, Problem 1QP

Bakelite, the first commercially produced polymer, contains monomer units of phenol and formaldehyde. If an item made of Bakelite were broken, it could not be melted down and reformed. Is Bakelite a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer? Can Bakelite be recycled?

Expert Solution & Answer

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The polymer type(thermoplastic or thermosetting) of Bakelite is to be determined and whether it can be recycled or not is to be stated.

Concept introduction:

A thermoplastic becomes soft on heating and can be remolded and reshaped.

Thermosetting plastics are permanent solids, and hence cannot be remolded or reshaped.

Answer to Problem 1QP

Solution: Bakelite is a thermosetting polymerand cannot be recycled easily.

Explanation of Solution

Thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics are two different classes of polymers, which are distinguished on the basis of their behavior when subjected toheat. Thermoplastics have lower melting points and become soft by the effect of heat. They can be remolded and reshaped to a new material, and henceit can be recycled.

However, thermoset plastics have a high melting point. They are permanent solids, and once hardened, they cannot be remolded and reshaped. Hence, they cannot be recycled.

Bakelite shows the properties similar to thermosetting plastics, and hence cannot be recycled.

Conclusion

Hence, the polymer type of Bakelite is thermosetting polymerand Bakelite cannot be recycled easily.

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Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Answer 4

Textbook Question

Chapter 12, Problem 1QP

Bakelite, the first commercially produced polymer, contains monomer units of phenol and formaldehyde. If an item made of Bakelite were broken, it could not be melted down and reformed. Is Bakelite a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer? Can Bakelite be recycled?

Expert Solution & Answer

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The polymer type(thermoplastic or thermosetting) of Bakelite is to be determined and whether it can be recycled or not is to be stated.

Concept introduction:

A thermoplastic becomes soft on heating and can be remolded and reshaped.

Thermosetting plastics are permanent solids, and hence cannot be remolded or reshaped.

Answer to Problem 1QP

Solution: Bakelite is a thermosetting polymerand cannot be recycled easily.

Explanation of Solution

Thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics are two different classes of polymers, which are distinguished on the basis of their behavior when subjected toheat. Thermoplastics have lower melting points and become soft by the effect of heat. They can be remolded and reshaped to a new material, and henceit can be recycled.

However, thermoset plastics have a high melting point. They are permanent solids, and once hardened, they cannot be remolded and reshaped. Hence, they cannot be recycled.

Bakelite shows the properties similar to thermosetting plastics, and hence cannot be recycled.

Conclusion

Hence, the polymer type of Bakelite is thermosetting polymerand Bakelite cannot be recycled easily.

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Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Answer 5

Textbook Question

Answer 6

Textbook Question

Answer 7

Expert Solution & Answer

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The polymer type(thermoplastic or thermosetting) of Bakelite is to be determined and whether it can be recycled or not is to be stated.

Concept introduction:

A thermoplastic becomes soft on heating and can be remolded and reshaped.

Thermosetting plastics are permanent solids, and hence cannot be remolded or reshaped.

Answer to Problem 1QP

Solution: Bakelite is a thermosetting polymerand cannot be recycled easily.

Explanation of Solution

Thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics are two different classes of polymers, which are distinguished on the basis of their behavior when subjected toheat. Thermoplastics have lower melting points and become soft by the effect of heat. They can be remolded and reshaped to a new material, and henceit can be recycled.

However, thermoset plastics have a high melting point. They are permanent solids, and once hardened, they cannot be remolded and reshaped. Hence, they cannot be recycled.

Bakelite shows the properties similar to thermosetting plastics, and hence cannot be recycled.

Conclusion

Hence, the polymer type of Bakelite is thermosetting polymerand Bakelite cannot be recycled easily.

Answer 8

Expert Solution & Answer

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The polymer type(thermoplastic or thermosetting) of Bakelite is to be determined and whether it can be recycled or not is to be stated.

Concept introduction:

A thermoplastic becomes soft on heating and can be remolded and reshaped.

Thermosetting plastics are permanent solids, and hence cannot be remolded or reshaped.

Answer to Problem 1QP

Solution: Bakelite is a thermosetting polymerand cannot be recycled easily.

Explanation of Solution

Thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics are two different classes of polymers, which are distinguished on the basis of their behavior when subjected toheat. Thermoplastics have lower melting points and become soft by the effect of heat. They can be remolded and reshaped to a new material, and henceit can be recycled.

However, thermoset plastics have a high melting point. They are permanent solids, and once hardened, they cannot be remolded and reshaped. Hence, they cannot be recycled.

Bakelite shows the properties similar to thermosetting plastics, and hence cannot be recycled.

Conclusion

Hence, the polymer type of Bakelite is thermosetting polymerand Bakelite cannot be recycled easily.

Answer 9

Expert Solution & Answer

Answer 10

Expert Solution & Answer

Answer 11

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The polymer type(thermoplastic or thermosetting) of Bakelite is to be determined and whether it can be recycled or not is to be stated.

Concept introduction:

A thermoplastic becomes soft on heating and can be remolded and reshaped.

Thermosetting plastics are permanent solids, and hence cannot be remolded or reshaped.

Answer 12

Answer to Problem 1QP

Solution: Bakelite is a thermosetting polymerand cannot be recycled easily.

Answer 13

Explanation of Solution

Thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics are two different classes of polymers, which are distinguished on the basis of their behavior when subjected toheat. Thermoplastics have lower melting points and become soft by the effect of heat. They can be remolded and reshaped to a new material, and henceit can be recycled.

However, thermoset plastics have a high melting point. They are permanent solids, and once hardened, they cannot be remolded and reshaped. Hence, they cannot be recycled.

Bakelite shows the properties similar to thermosetting plastics, and hence cannot be recycled.