Question

Bakelite is a polymer of
A. Benzaldehyde and phenol
B. Acetaldehyde and phenol
C. Formaldehyde and phenol
D. Formaldehyde and benzyl alcohol

Answer 1

A polymer is a substance or material consisting of very large molecules, or macromolecules, composed of many repeating subunits. Due to their broad spectrum of properties, both synthetic and natural polymers play essential and ubiquitous roles in everyday life. Bakelite is a thermosetting plastic used for making electrical switches and formed by condensation between two different polymers.

Complete answer:
Bakelite (Phenol Formaldehyde resin) is the first plastic made from synthetic component and its making requires multistage process like it began with the heating of phenol and formaldehyde in the presence of catalyst hydrochloric acid or the base ammonia they are further regarded as acidic and basic catalyst this created a liquid condensation product known as Bakelite. Bakelite is suitable as a molding compound, adhesive or binding agent and it is also highly resistant to electricity, heat and chemical action.
Condensation of Phenol and Benzaldehyde lead to the formation of Triphenyl derivatives, Acetaldehyde and Phenol condenses to form resinous products and when formaldehyde and benzyl alcohol reacts, they form Benzyl alcohol and sodium formate.

Therefore, option (C) is correct.

Note: Bakelite is also known as ‘material of thousand uses’ and is chemically called as poly oxy benzyl methylene glycol anhydride. Being an expensive polymer, its use has been decreasing or it has been substituted by many other polymers.