Question

Terylene is a

• A. Polyester
• B. Polyamide
• C. Vinyl polymer
• D. Acrylic Polymer

Hint:

Terylene (PET) is commonly used in fabrics, bottles, and food packaging.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding Terylene.
Terylene is the trade name for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is a synthetic fibre widely used in textiles and packaging materials.
Step 2: Chemical classification.
Polyethylene terephthalate is formed by condensation polymerization of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. The repeating ester linkage (–COO–) classifies it as a polyester.
Step 3: Analysis of options.
(A) Polyester: Correct — Terylene belongs to the polyester family.
(B) Polyamide: Includes nylons, not Terylene.
(C) Vinyl polymer: Derived from vinyl monomers, not applicable here.
(D) Acrylic Polymer: Based on acrylonitrile, not Terylene.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Terylene is a polyester, therefore option (A) is the correct answer.

Answer 2

To classify Terylene correctly, look at the type of repeating linkage that joins its monomer units together, since polymer families are named after their characteristic linking group.

1. Polyester: Terylene (polyethylene terephthalate) forms when terephthalic acid (or its dimethyl ester) reacts with ethylene glycol in a condensation reaction, releasing water (or methanol) and creating an ester linkage, -CO-O-, repeated along the chain. A polymer built from repeating ester linkages is by definition a polyester.
2. Polyamide: This family (nylons) is characterized by repeating amide linkages, -CO-NH-, formed from a diacid and a diamine (or an amino acid). Terylene's monomers are a diacid and a diol, not a diamine, so no amide linkage is possible.
3. Vinyl polymer: Vinyl polymers form by addition polymerization of monomers containing a C=C double bond (like ethylene or vinyl chloride), with no small molecule released and no ester or amide linkage created. Terylene is made by condensation, not addition, ruling this out.
4. Acrylic Polymer: Acrylics are addition polymers of acrylate/acrylonitrile-type monomers with a specific nitrile or acrylate side group; Terylene's backbone contains none of these features.

Since the defining linkage in Terylene's backbone is the ester group, it belongs to the polyester family.

Therefore, the correct answer is Polyester.