Name: Mthetheleli

Surname: Nxele
Student No: 221040133
Experiment 3:
Synthesis of bakelite

Abstract:
In this experiment Bakelite is syntheses and analysed for its properties the first analysis was
temperature resistance. Bakelite was formed by two reactants one liquid at room temperature one
melts when heated to about 100◦c in the presence of NH3 product formed was a milky-yellow solid.
Bakelite showed different properties from its reactants it hardened as it was heated and formed in
solid phase Bakelite did not melt when temperature was raised from 25◦c to about 100◦c it was heat
resistant showing that it is a good thermostat. The second analysis was the chemical resistance
Bakelite was exposed to different solvent polar solvents and acidic solvents even the universal solvent
water but Bakelite did not dissolve showing a high resistance to chemical solvents. These properties
give Bakelite many uses in the life of human and the world.

Introduction:
The Polymer Age is also called the Age of Plastics. "Plastic" (from the Greek "plastikos," meaning
moldable) is the popular term for a variety of synthetic, or manmade, polymers. Polymers ("poly" =
many) are very large molecules—veritable giants in the molecular world—comprised of smaller
molecules called monomers ("mono" = one). Most polymers—but not all—consist of monomers that
are similar to each other, joined together in a straight chain, like a long string of pearls.
Thousands of different polymers exist in nature. The most plentiful natural polymer in the world is
cellulose, the major natural structural material of trees and other plants. The proteins that make up our
bodies are polymers, including DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), the material that carries the genetic
codes for all living creatures.

Bakelite is formed from the reaction of phenol and formaldehyde. Basically, it is formed in two steps.
In the first step formaldehyde reacts with phenol and produces o-Hydroxymethyl phenol. Then o-
Hydroxy methyl phenol and phenol come together and form Bakelite. The reaction is condensation
polymerisation as two molecules condense and give out by-product. In case of Bakelite phenol and
formaldehyde condense to form the monomer giving out. Bakelite is also called a co-polymer.
Reaction:
Phenol reacts with formaldehyde to produce o-Hydroxy methyl phenol.
Now produced complex (o-Hydroxymethyl phenol) and phenol come together to form Bakelite

Hence the obtained product in the above reaction is Bakelite. And when this reaction proceeds at
larger extent or we can say multiple units come together, Bakelite will expand its size gradually and
make a chain like structure. Hence, we can say that Bakelite is formed by the reaction of Phenol and
formaldehyde.
Bakelite is widely used in our daily life. It has high resistance to heat and electricity both so it is used
in electrical appliances and in making handles of utensils. Due to high tensile strength, it has some
industrial uses also. The chemical formula of Bakelite can be written as (C6H6O-CH2OH)n.

Result and Discussion:

Part one of the synthesis of Bakelite was the formation of it using heat about 100 ◦c the boiling point
of water in this amount of heat one of the reactant of backlite (phenol) melts around this temperature
thus this increase the surface area of phenol and increase the average kinetic energy of the particles of
the reactants in the reaction effective collision per unit time in correct orientation occurs fevering the
formation of a new compound Bakelite which is solid even at 100 ◦c and at room temperature.
Part two was the examination of our product Bakelite the colour of our product formed was (milky-
yellow) and it was a hard solid with smooth surface. The product was irremovable from the base of
the tube it sticked very strong.
Table (1) Bakelite resistance to heat analysis:

Temperature Description of our product at that temperature

(◦c)
25 The product is solid does not melt the colour is milky-yellow no colour change
does not melt
30 Solid milky-yellow no colour change does not melt
40 Solid milky-yellow no colour change does not melt
50 Solid milky-yellow no colour change does not melt
60 Solid milky-yellow no colour change does not melt
70 Solid milky-yellow no colour change does not melt
80 Solid milky-yellow no colour change does not melt
90 Solid milky-yellow no colour changes very small residue decomposes on the adage
the large mas does not melt
100 The temperature did not rise to 100◦c or above it reached 98◦c and temperature was
attained we had ruched the boiling point of water.

Table (2) Bakelite chemical resistance analysis:

Chemical compound Decryption of product change

H2O Solid milky-yellow no colour change does not dissolve the H2O become
milky in the solution
Dichloromethane Solid milky-yellow no colour change does not dissolve white particles occur
on the side of the tube the solution is milky
, acetonitrile Solid milky-yellow no colour change does not dissolve the solution of
acetonitrile is milky
Methanol Solid milky-yellow no colour change does not dissolve the solution of
methanol is milky
dimethylsulfoxide. Solid milky-yellow no colour change does not dissolve the solution of
dimethylsulfoxide is very clear (watery)
HCl Solid milky-yellow no colour change does not dissolve white particles occur
on the side of the tube the solution is milky

What are the Desirable Properties of Bakelite?

From table (1) we can see that Bakelite is very good at resitting temperature thus showing that it is a
good thermostat. From table (2) we can see that Bakelite is resistant to many chemicals basic or
acidic, polar or nonpolar solvents this give rise to important properties of Bakelite
• Very smooth molding can be obtained from this polymer.
• Bakelite moldings are heat-resistant and scratch-resistant.
• They are also resistant to several destructive solvents.
When I analysed Bakelite in the presence of HCl I thought it could decompose given we synthesized
it in a basic medium with the preens of NH3 but Bakelite shows very good resistance regardless of the
high acidity of HCl.
As much as the Bakelite is resistant to heat and chemical solvent this can give a problem this make it
almost imposable to recycle Bakelite thus is it environmentally friendly as it contains formaldehyde.
Bakelite is highly crosslinked, and won't dissolve in anything that doesn't chemically degrade it into
small molecules (in which case you don't really have a Bakelite solution).

Conclusion:
Bakelite was synthesised in this experiment it formed as a milky-yellow solid phased compound its
analysis showed that it is heat resistant and comically resistance which give rise to many uses of it in
the world.

References:
(1) Bakelite Materials in Industry". Bakelite Review. 7 (3): 30–36. 1935.
(2) F. Armbruster (1935). ""Novotext" Bearings". Science Abstracts: 1107.
(3) Laughton M A; Say M G (2013)