Question

Rubber is a -
a. Conducting polymer
b. Oriented polymer
c. Elastomer
d. Strong commercial fabric

Answer 1

Hint: We know that polymers are high molecular mass substances which consist of a very large number of simple repeating structural units joined together through covalent bonds in a linear fashion.

Complete answer:
Now, an elastomer is a polymer which has the property of viscoelasticity i.e. it has both viscosity and elasticity. They have very weak or low intermolecular forces. The young's modulus for it is also low. Rubber, as we know, is made up of isoprene monomers. Isoprene is basically \[2 - \]methylbut\[ - 1,3 - \]diene. Now, there are two types of rubbers which are found, they are synthetic and natural. The monomer for natural rubber is poly- isoprene where as the monomer present in synthetic rubber is styrene.
It is known that polymers are also called macromolecules. Some examples of them are polythene, nylon\[6,6\] , bakelite, rubber, etc.
There are many types of polymers which are classified based on their structure, polymerisation, monomers, molecular forces etc.
Now rubber is a polymer, which is based on the classification of their molecular forces is an elastomer.

So the correct option is (c), Elastomer.

Additional Information:
We know vulcanized rubber, which is a special type of rubber which is prepared by cross-linking of the polymer chains with disulfide bonds, is widely used in protective equipment in the sports industry. For example, used in the making of the pads and guards used in the popular sport cricket are made up of vulcanized rubber.
A category of rubber such as soft rubber, because of their electrical resistance goods are used as insulation and for protective gloves, shoes and blankets while another category of rubber i.e. hard rubber is used for articles such as telephone in housings, several parts for radio sets, meters and other electrical instruments.

Note:
It should be kept in mind that most of the polymers around us are made up of a hydrocarbon backbone. And a hydrocarbon backbone is a long chain of linked carbon and hydrogen atoms, which is possible due to the presence of tetravalent nature of carbon .