Question:

The homopolymer formed from 4-hydroxy-butanoic acid is :

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Intermolecular esterification (condensation) of HO-(CH2)3-COOH joins the acid carbon of one molecule to the hydroxyl oxygen of the next.
Updated On: Nov 5, 2026
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

4-Hydroxybutanoic acid is HO-CH2CH2CH2-COOH (one -OH and one -COOH on the same molecule).
Condensation polymerisation: the -COOH of one molecule reacts with the -OH of the next, losing water and forming ester links, giving the polyester
n HO(CH2)3COOH \(\rightarrow\) [-O-(CH2)3-CO-]n + (n-1) H2O.
The repeating unit has C(=O), three CH2 and one O. Options 1 and 4 contain two CH2 (succinic-type units); option 2 has an extra oxygen (O-C(=O)-(CH2)3-O). Option 3, [C(=O)-(CH2)3-O]n, matches.
Answer: (3) [-C(=O)-(CH2)3-O-]n
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