Video Transcript
Which of the following statements about Bakelite is incorrect? (A) It can be easily molded. (B) It is a heat-resistant polymer. (C) It can be formed from the reaction of phenol with acetaldehyde. (D) It is a good electrical insulator. (E) It can be used for the covering of electrical appliances.
Bakelite was one of the first plastics ever made. Its properties include that it can be easily molded, it is heat resistant, and it is an excellent electrical insulator. Due to its valuable properties, Bakelite has had a wide variety of uses, including wire insulation, electrical appliance coverings, automobile parts, as well as toys and jewelry. Bakelite is still used in some products today although not very widely as it once was.
The synthesis of Bakelite involves heating phenol and formaldehyde in the presence of an acid or base catalyst. First, a substituted phenol is produced. Then, this product reacts with another molecule of phenol in a condensation reaction. During the reaction, a water molecule is eliminated and a new bond forms between the substituted phenol and a phenol molecule. These substitution and condensation reactions continue, ultimately forming the cross-linked polymer known as Bakelite. When looking at the answer choices, we can see that statement (C) is false. Bakelite is made by reacting phenol with formaldehyde, not acetaldehyde.
In conclusion, the statement about Bakelite that is incorrect is answer choice (C): it can be formed from the reaction of phenol with acetaldehyde.
