Question

Which of the following statements is true?
A. A nylon thread is stronger than a steel wire
B. Rayon is a natural fibre made from wood pulp
C. Cotton is not a polymer
D. Fabric made from polyester can get wrinkles easily

Answer 1

Hint: We can examine each statement individually and find out which is the right one. To check if nylon is stronger than steel ,we could examine its structure. By examining the constituent particles of rayon and cotton, we can deduce whether the second and third statements are true or false. And lastly, by thinking over the characteristics of polyesters, we can check if the last statement is true or false.

Complete step by step answer:
First let us examine the first statement. Nylon is a polyamide, and its monomers are adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine, which are held together by very strong amide linkages. Thus, if we take a nylon and steel wire of equal diameter, it is found that the nylon wire can support a much heavier load than the steel wire, indicating that it is stronger.
If we examine the second statement, we see that it is written that rayon is a natural fibre made from wood pulp. Although the origin of rayon comes from wood pulp, it is not a natural fibre as the wood pulp has to be chemically treated with a number of processes to finally obtain the polymer. Hence, it is an artificial polymer.
The third statement says that cotton is not a polymer. However, this also is not true, as cotton is almost entirely made up of cellulose, a naturally occurring polymer of glucose. Hence, this makes cotton a natural polymer.
The fourth statement is also wrong, as polyesters are actually known for their ability to be wrinkle-free. This is due to the fact that they do not absorb water easily like natural polymers like cotton, and hence do not wrinkle on drying. Also, some polyesters are cross-linked, which enhances their ability to be wrinkle-free.

So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Note: Polymers obtained from natural sources, like plant fibres, are termed as natural polymers while the ones obtained by chemical treatment are known as synthetic polymers.
The extreme load bearing capacity of nylon is the reason why it is used in heavy fishing rods and other equipment.
Note that cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer in the world.