Synthesis and Analysis of Polymers: An Experiment Designed for Non-science Majors

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 24 (2019) pp 109-110

Synthesis and Analysis of Polymers: An Experiment Designed for Non-science Majors

Brian E. Love

Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, loveb@ecu.edu
Received December 26, 2018. Accepted August 29, 2019.

Published: 6 September 2019

Abstract. Two activities are described which are intended to familiarize non-science majors in an organic chemistry course with polymers and polymerization. One part of the experiment involves preparation of poly(ethyl methacrylate) by radical polymerization of the corresponding monomer. The second activity involves identifying polymer samples (provided by the students) by means of infrared spectroscopy.

Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; organic chemistry; polymers; IR spectroscopy

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: loveb@ecu.edu )

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Supporting Materials:

The background information on the experiment provided in a student “course pack,” the experimental procedure and the “write-up sheet” students use to report results for the experiment are included in the Supporting Materials.Copies of the “instructor’s notes,” as well as questions used in pre-lab quizzes are also included. (251 KB)