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Question: How is Teflon prepared? Give the chemical equation?...

How is Teflon prepared? Give the chemical equation?

Explanation

Solution

Teflon is a polymer. They are formed from monomer units. It is a synthetic polymer. Teflon is an additional polymer. It is formed through addition polymerization reactions in which the monomer units are joined to the growing polymer at the double bond or triple bond. There is no co-generation of other products in the addition polymerization. Other examples of addition polymer are PAN, polystyrene

Complete step by step answer:
As we already mentioned above Teflon is an additional polymer.
It is a linear polymer and as mentioned earlier, it is manufactured by a free- radical polymerization mechanism.
It is a polymer made up of Carbon and Fluorine.
The monomer unit is CF2 = CF2{\text{C}}{{\text{F}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{ = C}}{{\text{F}}_{\text{2}}}
It is tetrafluoroethene.
The reaction conditions are heat, pressure in the presence of catalyst benzoyl chloride.
Thus, the double bonds are cleaved and free radical is formed on both the C.
n units of the tetrafluoroethylene monomer are reacting to give Teflon.
nCF2 = CF2n(CF2–CF2){\text{nC}}{{\text{F}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{ = C}}{{\text{F}}_{\text{2}}} \to {\text{n(C}}{{\text{F}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{--C}}{{\text{F}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{)}}
It is a synthetic polymer.
The Fluorine around the C-C bond gives it a good chemical resistance and stability.
When smaller unsaturated molecules are reacted together, additional polymers are formed and there is a repeating unit.
The polymer polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is known as Teflon.

Note:
There are many applications of Teflon. The properties include flexibility, good resistance to heat, strong anti-adhesion properties. It is used as a non-stick coating in kitchen cookware in the pan, cooking tray, etc., It is one of the high-performance fluoropolymers. There are some limitations to Teflon. It is prone to toxic fumes and corrosive too. It has poor resistance to radiation.