Question

Bakelite is obtained from phenol by reacting with:
A. $C{H_3}COC{H_3}$
B. $HCHO$
C. ${\left( {C{H_2}OH} \right)_2}$
D. $C{H_3}CHO$

Answer 1

Bakelite is a synthetic polymeric molecule which is organic. The formation of the structure depends on the high temperature and pressure and each of the polymers can form the straight chains as well as the branch chain associations because of the specific functional groups in the monomeric structure.

Complete step by step solution:
The reaction of phenol with formaldehyde together forms the polymeric structure known as Bakelite. Bakelite is therefore formed by the combination of $HCHO$ with phenolic structure. Therefore, the formation of bakelite is a continued reaction. The first form is the reaction between $HCHO$ and phenol together which reacts to produce the two products, which are ortho-hydroxymethyl phenol and para-hydroxymethyl phenol. The ortho-linked phenolic groups form methyl linkages during polymerization by the removal of water. This linkage forms the straight-chain form of the polymeric structure. The para-linked phenolic groups form methyl linkages that similarly form the branched chain polymers. This forms the three-dimensional structure of bakelite which is being used for various general uses. This is the main form of the chemical structure containing both the side chain and the branch chains with each monomer.
Therefore, the organic compound which is used for the preparation of bakelite is B. $HCHO$ .

Note:
Bakelite can be prepared in two forms, one is a softer form of bakelite while the other one is a harder form of bakelite based on the specific uses of these two forms of a polymer. The harder polymer is used for the preparation of harder substances like electrical equipment, gramophone records and many more, while the softer bakelite polymer is used as varnishes and can be sulphonated to form resin.