Question

In the process of vulcanization:
(a) natural rubber is heated with Sulphur
(b) natural rubber is heated with carbon
(c) natural rubber is heated with phosphorus
(d) natural rubber is heated with sodium

Answer 1

Hint: Vulcanization is the process of heating of the rubber in the presence of a non-metal which belongs to the 16th group of the period table and is a member of the oxygen family and has the atomic number as 16 and mass number as 32. Now, identify it.

Complete step by step answer:
First of all, we should, what is vulcanization. By the vulcanization, we mean the process of heating of the natural rubber with the Sulphur to improve its properties .
Natural rubbers a polymer of isoprene and there are no cross-links between the polymer chains. Natural rubber becomes soft and sticky when heated at high temperatures and brittle at low temperatures and is insoluble in non-polar solvents and is easily attacked by the oxidizing agents. Thus, to improve all these properties of the natural rubber, it is made to be under vulcanized with the natural.
In the process of vulcanization, Sulphur cross-links are formed and it makes the rubber hard, tough with the tensile strength and it has excellent elasticity. The rubber gets stiffened and intermolecular movement of rubber springs is prevented resulting in the physical character of rubber and the extent of the stiffness depends on the amount of the Sulphur added.
So, thus, in the process of vulcanization natural rubber is heated with Sulphur.
So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Note: Vulcanized rubber is used for making tyre rubber(containing 5% Sulphur), in clothing industries and also used in the flooring as it is water -proof and slip-resistant and is also used for insulation purposes like coating of wires, cables etc.