Which among the following is a biodegradable polymer? (a) Nylon-2-nylon-6 (b) Polyvinyl chloride (c) Bakelite (d) Polythene

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: September 25th, 2023

Among the following, a biodegradable polymer is Nylon-2-nylon-6. High molecular mass compounds known as polymers are created by combining repeating units in a regular pattern. Monomers are the basic reactive molecules that serve as the building blocks for polymer repeating units. Polymerization is the simple process by which monomers are converted into polymers.

Table of content

1. Classification of Polymer
2. Which among the following is a biodegradable polymer? (a) Nylon-2-nylon-6 (b) Polyvinyl chloride (c) Bakelite (d) Polythene

Classification of Polymer

Natural polymers:

Polymers are obtained mostly from animals and plants (nature).
Examples: starch, Cellulose, etc.

Synthetic polymers:

Polymers prepared man-made or artificial in the laboratory.
Examples – Nylon 6,6, Synthetic rubber (Buna – S), Teflon, etc.

Semi-synthetic polymers:

By chemical modification, some polymers occur naturally.
Examples – Rayon (cellulose acetate), cellulose nitrate, etc.

Polymerization:

From the monomers, the process of formation of polymers is known as polymerization.

Bio-degradable and non-biodegradable polymers:

Biodegradable polymers are those that can degrade quickly by enzyme catalysis processes.
Microorganisms are the ones who make the enzymes.
Chain growth polymers have non-biodegradable carbon-carbon bonds that are inert to enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
When we add a hydrolyzable ester group to a carbon chain, microbes can break them down by enzymatic action.
Polylactide and polyglycolide are two examples of biodegradable polymers containing esteric linkages.

Nylon-2-nylon-6:

It is a biodegradable polymer.
It is created through the copolymerization of aminocaproic acid with glycine.
Non-biodegradable polymers include polyvinyl chloride, bakelite, and polythene.

Therefore, Nylon-2-nylon-6 is a biodegradable polymer

Summary: