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The structure of part of a polyester chain is shown - AQA - A-Level Chemistry - Question 22 - 2018 - Paper 3
Question 22
The structure of part of a polyester chain is shown. Which statement correctly explains why plastics made from this polyester only soften at high temperatures? A. ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The structure of part of a polyester chain is shown - AQA - A-Level Chemistry - Question 22 - 2018 - Paper 3
Step 1
Which statement correctly explains why plastics made from this polyester only soften at high temperatures?
Answer
D. The carbon-oxygen bonds in the chain are strong.
Explanation
The statement highlights the strength of the carbon-oxygen bonds found in the polyester chain. Understanding the molecular structure of polyesters is crucial, as the strength of these covalent bonds contributes significantly to the thermal stability of the material. This implies that a considerable amount of energy is required to break these bonds, which explains why the polyester plastics soften only at elevated temperatures.