250+ TOP MCQs on Anionic Polymerization and Answers

Polymer Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on “Anionic Polymerization”.

1. How the termination in anionic polymerization most probably does take place?
a) unimolecular termination
b) bimolecular
c) termination by solvent transfer
d) all of the mentioned

Answer: c
Clarification: The termination reaction in anionic polymerization most probably takes place by the chain transfer involving solvent or some other additive used such as water, alcohol, etc.

2. Which of the following monomer has the least reactivity towards anionic polymerization?
a) acrylonitrile
b) methyl metharylate
c) butadiene
d) methacrylonitrile

Answer: c
Clarification: According to the reactivity order given by Mayo and Walling,
Acrylonitrile>Methacrylonitrile>Methyl methacrylate>butadiene
This order is decided on the basis of the electronegativity of the electron-withdrawing substituent groups.

3. Which of the following nature of solvent can inhibit the growth of polymer in anionic polymerization?
a) acidic
b) basic
c) neutral
d) none of the mentioned

Answer: a
Clarification: Acidic solvents or additives inhibit the growth in anionic polymerization.

4. What kind of substituent groups should be attached to the monomer, readily undergoing anionic polymerization?
a) electron accepting
b) electron releasing
c) all of the mentioned
d) none of the mentioned

Answer: a
Clarification: The monomers with electron accepting substituent groups like nitrile, carboxyl, ester groups, etc. are readily susceptible to anionic polymerization as the it enables easy carbanion formation.

5. The ease of anionic polymerization is dependent only on the catalyst system used for a given monomer. State true or false.
a) true
b) false

Answer: b
Clarification: The ease of anionic polymerization is dependent not only on the catalyst system for a given monomer, but also on the structure of the monomer for a given catalyst.

6. Which of the following can assist as a catalyst in anionic polymerization?
a) Sulphuric acid
b) Boron trifluoride
c) grignard reagent
d) all of the mentioned

Answer: c
Clarification: The basic compounds like amides, aryls, alkoxides and Grignard reagents (R-MgX) are used as catalysts for anionic polymerization.

7. What does the effectiveness of the catalyst in the initiation process of anionic polymerization depend on?
a) acidity of the monomer
b) basicity of the catalyst
c) all of the mentioned
d) none of the mentioned

Answer: c
Clarification: The effectiveness of the catalyst in the initiation process of anionic polymerization depends on its basicity as well as the acidity of monomer.

8. Styrene is polymerized using amide catalyst in liquid ammonia, anionically. How will the rate of reaction change, if the monomer concentration is doubled (keeping rest other things constant)?
a) doubled
b) halved
c) quadrupled
d) No change

Answer: c
Clarification: According to the rate expression for overall rate
R_p α [M]²
So the rate is quadrupled, if the monomer concentration is doubled.

9. Which of the following monomers is more prone to form low-molecular weight polymer when polymerized in liquid ammonia?
a) acrylonitrile
b) metha acrylonitirile
c) styrene
d) methyl methacrylonitrile

Answer: c
Clarification: Styrene contains the phenyl group which is less electronegative than the nitrile group (-CN) attached to the other three monomers, so it is more susceptible to proton transfer from ammonia. And transfer reactions generally yield low-molecular weight polymers.

10. How is the degree of polymerization affected with the increase in concentration of both monomer and liquid ammonia, when a monomer is polymerized anionically in liquid ammonia?
a) increases
b) decreases
c) no change
d) cannot be determined

Answer: d
Clarification: According to the expression for degree of polymerization,
X_n α [M]/[NH₃]
Since the degree of increase in the concentration of both monomer and liquid ammonia is not known, we cannot determine that whether the degree of polymerization will increase or decrease.