Resumen de Bromination, Elimination, and Polymerization:: A 3-Step Sequence for the Preparation of Polystyrene from Ethylbenzene

Elizabeth M. Sanford, Heather L. Hermann

• An organic chemistry lab that introduces students to polymer chemistry is presented. Students complete a radical bromination of ethylbenzene, which is followed by elimination to give styrene. A radical polymerization is then completed to produce polystyrene. This 3-step, 2-lab-period experiment covers classic reactions learned in the first semester of organic chemistry and simultaneously introduces students to polymerization, precipitation, and molecular weight determination.