The difference between styrene and divinylbenzene

1. molecular structure is different

1. Structure of styrene The chemical formula of styrene is C8H8, and the molecular structure consists of a benzene ring and a vinyl group. Styrene has a carbon-carbon double bond located between the benzene ring and the vinyl group. Its structure can be represented as Ph-CH-CH₂, where Ph represents a benzene ring. This structure makes styrene have good stability and chemical inertness, and it is not easy to polymerize.

2. Structure of divinylbenzene The chemical formula of divinylbenzene is C10H12, and the molecular structure is connected by two vinyl groups on the benzene ring. Its structure can be expressed as Ph-CH = CH-CH = CH-Ph. Divinylbenzene has symmetry, and there are two carbon-carbon double bonds in the molecule, which makes it exhibit different properties in chemical reactions.

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3. 
   of structural symmetry The structure of styrene is asymmetric because there is a single vinyl group in its molecule, resulting in directional molecular structure. The structure of divinylbenzene is symmetrical, because the two vinyl groups are symmetrically connected to the benzene ring, making it more active in chemical reactions.

2. physical property differences

1. melting point and boiling point Styrene has a melting point of 89°C and a boiling point of 207°C, which is highly stable. Divinylbenzene has a melting point of 106 ° C. and a boiling point of 190 ° C., which are relatively close in physical properties, but divinylbenzene is more easily degraded at high temperatures.

2. Density The density of styrene is 0.946g/cm³, and the density of divinylbenzene is 0.946g/cm³. The density difference between the two is not large, but the density of divinylbenzene is slightly lower, which may be related to its symmetry.

3. chemical differences

1. Polymerization Styrene is a linear low molecular weight polymer with good thermal stability. Due to its symmetrical structure, divinylbenzene can form conjugated systems between double bonds, which makes it show stronger performance during polymerization, but also has a stronger tendency to degrade.

2. reactivity Styrene has good non-degradability in the presence of catalysts and is often used in the manufacture of non-degradable plastics. Because of its symmetrical structure, divinylbenzene has a high tendency to degrade, especially under light conditions.

4. practical application of different

1. plastics industry Styrene is widely used in the plastics industry, especially in the production of plastic materials such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Its excellent thermal stability makes it an important raw material in the plastics industry.

2. biodegradable materials Because of its symmetrical structure, divinylbenzene is often used in the manufacture of biodegradable materials, such as biodegradable plastics and degradable fibers. These materials have important application value in the field of environmental protection.

5. identification method

1. physical identification By infrared spectroscopy, the absorption peaks of styrene and divinylbenzene are different, which can be used as a preliminary basis for identification. The double bond absorption peak of styrene is located at 1650 cms¹, while the absorption peak of divinylbenzene is relatively flat due to its symmetry.

2. chemical identification Under strong alkaline conditions, styrene reacts with sodium bicarbonate to form carbonate, which shows certain chemical activity. The reaction of divinylbenzene is slower under alkaline conditions, indicating that its chemical inertness is higher.

3. Performance differences From the aspects of thermal stability and degradation performance, styrene shows better stability, while divinylbenzene is easy to degrade under high temperature and light, so it is necessary to select suitable raw materials according to specific requirements in practical applications.

Conclusion

There are significant differences between styrene and divinylbenzene in terms of structure, physical properties, chemical properties, and practical applications. Choosing the right material is not only related to production efficiency, but also related to product quality and environmental performance. Chemical workers need to understand the characteristics of these two substances according to specific needs, and apply them flexibly in actual production.