Question

Which among the following is a poor conductor of heat and electricity?
(A) Melamine
(B) Bakelite
(C) Both A and B
(D) None of the above

Answer 1

Electricity is nothing but the flow of electrons. The solution consisting of ions can easily conduct electricity, whereas chemical compounds like plastic are poor conductors of heat and electricity due to the absence of free electrons.

Complete answer:
Polymers are the repeating units of monomers. For example, vinyl chloride combines with a large number of molecules and forms a polymer known as polyvinyl chloride.
These polymers are of different types like thermosetting polymers and thermoplastic polymers.
Thermosetting polymers are cross-linked polymers formed or heavily branched polymers that can be hardened when heated or molded. One of the examples of these types of polymers is Bakelite.
Melamine is one of the polymers that is an example of a thermoplastic polymer, which can harden upon heating.
As both polymers given Bakelite and melamine are the example of thermosetting polymers. As polymers are the poor conductors of heat and electricity.
Thus, in the given options, both Bakelite and melamine are poor conductors of heat and electricity.
Both A and B are the correct answers.
Option C is the correct one.

Note:
Bakelite is formed by the repeating units of phenol and formaldehyde. Being a thermosetting polymer, it can get hard when heated. Bakelite is a synthetic polymer. Melamine is a thermoplastic and can get it to shape again and again. It is a natural polymer.