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Q.Write the chemical reactions involved in manufacture of Nylon 6,6

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Step 1. Adipic acid, HOOC-(CH2)4-COOH, and hexamethylenediamine, H2N-(CH2)6-NH2, are mixed; the acidic -COOH groups and basic -NH2 groups react to first form an intermediate salt, hexamethylene diammonium adipate (the 'nylon salt'): -OOC-(CH2)4-COO- paired with +H3N-(CH2)6-NH3+.

Step 2. This nylon salt is then heated under high temperature (about 553 K) and high pressure, driving condensation polymerization: each -COO-/-NH3+ pair reacts further, eliminating water and forming an amide (-CO-NH-) linkage.

Step 3. Repeating this condensation along the chain builds up the polyamide fibre nylon 6,6, repeating unit -[CO-(CH2)4-CO-NH-(CH2)6-NH]n-, releasing n water molecules overall.

✓Final answer

n HOOC-(CH2)4-COOH + n H2N-(CH2)6-NH2 -> [nylon salt] --[553K, high pressure, -nH2O]--> -[CO-(CH2)4-CO-NH-(CH2)6-NH]n- (Nylon 6,6)

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