Question

The monomer that undergo radical polymerisation most easily is:
(A) $C{H_2} = C{H_2}$
(B) ${C_6}{H_5}CH = C{H_2}$
(C) ${C_6}{H_6}$
(D) $C{H_3}CH = C{H_2}$

Answer 1

Polymers are classified into four categories :
- Thermoplastic
- Thermosetting
- Fibres
- Elastomer
Now the order of strength in these different types of polymers is :
Elastomers $<$ Thermoplastic $<$ Fibres $<$ Thermosetting.

Complete step by step solution:
Polymers are materials made of long, repeating chains of molecules. The materials have unique properties, depending on the type of molecules being bonded and how they are bonded.
We can define all these four types of polymer as follows:
Elastomers: These are the molecules which have the weak intermolecular forces.They are very elastic.
Examples are: Natural rubber, neoprene, Buna-S
Thermoplastic: All the plastic material which can be softened and melted by heating but they set again when cool, are called thermoplastic polymers.
Examples are: Polyethylene, Polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride
Thermosetting: They are generally a liquid at room temperature which hardens irreversibly on heating.
Examples are: Polyurethane , Bakelite
Fibres: These are the polymers which have the strong intermolecular force between the chains.
Examples are: Polyvinyl chloride, phenol formaldehyde.
Monomers: The smallest unit of polymer from which the whole polymer is formed, is known as monomers.
Here we are given the monomers and we have to find the monomer which can undergo radical polymerisation most easily.
Radical polymerisation: It is defined as the polymerisation in which the formation of stable free radical takes place. And now the monomer which are given to us are $C{H_2} = C{H_2}$ , ${C_6}{H_5}CH = C{H_2}$ , ${C_6}{H_6}$ and $C{H_3}CH = C{H_2}$ . From these monomers the monomer ${C_6}{H_5}CH = C{H_2}$ can undergo radical polymerisation easily because the radical formed is stabilised by resonance.
Hence option B is correct.

Note:
Free radical: They are defined as the molecular species which are capable of independent existence and which contains an unpaired electron in an atomic orbital. They are generally unstable and highly reactive.