Chapter 21, Problem 102E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The number of styrene molecules in a chain of polystyrene is to be identified.

Concept introduction:

Polymers are the large molecules that consist of smaller subunits known as monomers. Polystyrene is a polymer that is synthesized from the monomer unit styrene. The formula of styrene is ${\text{C}}_{\text{8}}{\text{H}}_{\text{8}}$. The various number of styrene units joined to form polystyrene molecule.

The formula to calculate the number of monomer units is,

$\text{n}=\frac{\text{M}}{\text{m}}$

Where,

• $\text{n}$ is the number of monomer units.

• $\text{M}$ is the molecular mass of the polymer.

• $\text{m}$ is the molecular mass of one monomer unit.

The formula to calculate the mass of one monomer unit is,

$\text{m}=\left[\begin{array}{c}\left(\text{number of carbon atom}\right)\left(\text{atomic mass of carbon atom}\right)\\ +\left(\text{number of hydrogen atom}\right)\left(\text{atomic mass of hydrogen atom}\right)\end{array}\right]$