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🧪 Chemistry  ·  Polymers  ·  NEET & JEE

Which polymer is used to make plastic bottles (PET)?

Answer: Polyethylene terephthalate.

  • A Polyethylene terephthalate
  • B Polyethylene as frequently observed in practice
  • C Polystyrene in many documented cases
  • D PVC according to conventional understanding

Correct answer: A. Polyethylene terephthalate

Explanation: PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is the polymer used to make clear plastic bottles.

Addition vs Condensation PolymerisationAddition (e.g. polythene)n (CH₂=CH₂)-[-CH₂-CH₂-]ₙ-No atoms lost - monomers just join at the double bondCondensation (e.g. Nylon-6,6)HOOC-R-COOH + H₂N-R'-NH₂-[-CO-R-CO-NH-R'-NH-]ₙ-+ n H₂OA small molecule (water here) is eliminated at EVERY linking step

Addition polymerisation simply links monomers containing a double bond with nothing left over, while condensation polymerisation joins two different monomers through a reaction (often forming an ester or amide bond) that releases a small molecule like water at each step.

Concept context

Large molecules made of repeating monomer units. Covers addition and condensation polymerisation, natural and synthetic polymers (nylon, PVC, Bakelite, natural rubber), and their real-world industrial applications.

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