Question

What is Teflon? What is it used for?

Answer 1

Hint: Teflon is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene monomer. It is used in our day-to-day lives. Several utensils that we use have a Teflon coating on them. Teflon is a strong, waxy white resin. Generally, it is a safe and stable compound but sometimes it can be dangerous also.

Complete answer:
The chemical name of Teflon is polytetrafluoroethylene, and it is abbreviated as PTFE. It is produced by free-radical polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene. It is also known as Fluon, Hostaflon, and Polyflon. It is a synthetic fluoropolymer. Its molecular weight is very high and the polymer wholly consists of carbon and fluorine. The fluorine atoms surround the carbon chain like a protective sheath, creating a chemically inert and relatively dense molecule with very strong carbon-fluorine bonds.
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a strong, tough, waxy, and nonflammable synthetic resin. PTFE is a thermoplastic polymer, which is a white solid at room temperature. The only chemicals known to affect these carbon-fluorine bonds are highly reactive metals like alkali metals. Polytetrafluoroethylene has one of the lowest coefficients of friction of any solid. It is inert to most chemicals, does not melt below \[{327^0}C\].
PTFE is used to make several non-stick cookware, waterproof fabric, surgical devices, etc. It has a slippery surface, high melting point, and resistance to attack by almost all chemicals. PTFE can be used to prevent insects from climbing up surfaces painted with the material. PTFE is so slippery that insects cannot get a grip and tend to fall off. Because of its superior chemical and thermal properties, PTFE is often used as a gasket material within industries that require resistance to aggressive chemicals such as pharmaceuticals or chemical processing.

Note:
Teflon cookware when put empty on high flame produces harmful health effects such as fever, sore throat, and coughing. Teflon foils are often used in laser printers. Generally, Teflon is a safe and stable compound. However, at high temperatures above ${300^0}C$, Teflon, a coating on nonstick cookware, starts to break down, releasing toxic chemicals into the air. Its inhalation can cause Teflon flu.