Question

a) Rubber is a natural polymer obtained from the bark of rubber trees.

i) Name the monomer of natural rubber.

ii) Vulcanisation improves the elasticity of rubber. What is vulcanisation?

b) Write two examples for synthetic rubber.

Answer 1

a) i) Isoprene, 3-butadiene)

ii) The process of heating a mixture of raw rubber with sulphur and an appropriate additive at a temperature range between 373 K to 415 K.

b) e.g. 1. Neoprene, 2. Buna – N