Polymerization of alkenes with acid | Alkenes and Alkynes | Organic chemistry | Khan Academy

TL;DR

This content explains the process of how polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is formed from chloroethene molecules.

Transcript

Let's say we have some chloroethene here, and you wouldn't have to call this 1-chloro-eth-1-ene, because if you just go with chloroethene, there's only one way to draw this. And the common name for chloroethene is vinyl chloride. So let's say we have a bunch of chloroethene molecules along with or mixed with some hydrogen chloride. And I've drawn a... Read More

Key Insights

• 💁 Chloroethene can be referred to as vinyl chloride, and it is the precursor for the formation of PVC.
• 🥺 Chloroethene molecules can react with hydrogen chloride, leading to the formation of a carbocation.
• 💁 The carbocation can undergo further reactions with chloroethene molecules, resulting in the formation of a polymer.

Questions & Answers

Q: How is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) formed from chloroethene?

PVC is formed by a reaction between chloroethene and hydrogen chloride. The chlorine atom in chloroethene attracts an electron from the hydrogen atom, resulting in a partially positive charge on the hydrogen. The chlorine atom then gains the electron, forming a chloride ion. This sets up the conditions for the formation of a carbocation, which can react with other chloroethene molecules to form PVC.

Q: What is the common name for chloroethene?

The common name for chloroethene is vinyl chloride.

Q: How does the formation of PVC occur?

The formation of PVC occurs through a repetitive process. Each chloroethene molecule reacts with a carbocation, resulting in the addition of another unit to the polymer chain. This process can repeat numerous times, leading to the formation of a long chain polymer.

Q: What is the significance of the reaction between carbocation and chloroethene?

The reaction between carbocation and chloroethene is crucial in the formation of PVC. The carbocation provides a site for the addition of another chloroethene unit, allowing the polymer chain to grow and form PVC.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Chloroethene, also known as vinyl chloride, can undergo a reaction with hydrogen chloride to form a carbocation.

• The carbocation can then react with more chloroethene molecules, leading to the formation of a polymer.

• This polymer is called polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is commonly used for piping in plumbing systems.