Chapter 30, Problem 41A

To determine

To identify the polymer material used to make CD cases and foam drinking cups. Explain the process used to make these two products.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Most of the stuff that is present in CD cases is polystyrene and in foam cups also polystyrene is used to make them. In making these foam drinking cups both the hard and foamy polystyrene is used. Thus, foamy polystyrene is also known as Foamy Polystyrene. Whereas in the CD cases this polystyrene is used with plastic flakes which can be easily breakable with suitable energy and they are tough and brittle.

The polystyrene is a polymer material made up of several monomerizes material called styrene. As the reaction shown below the styrene molecules in large number undergoes polymerization to give the polystyrene polymer which is used in making several materials and many home appliances. The smallest unit in polystyrene is styrene. hence, styrene is the monomer in this polymerization.

  

Conclusion:

The polymer used is Polystyrene