Natural rubber is a type of elastomer derived from the latex sap of certain plants, most commonly the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). Isoprene, on the other hand, is a volatile liquid hydrocarbon that serves as the main building block for the synthesis of natural rubber.
Natural rubber is composed of long chains of polymers, primarily made up of repeating units of the monomer isoprene. These isoprene units are joined together by a chemical process called polymerization, resulting in the formation of the rubber material. The isoprene units can undergo cross-linking, which enhances the rubber's elasticity and strength.
Isoprene serves as the basic building block for the formation of both natural and synthetic rubber. While natural rubber is derived directly from the latex sap of rubber trees, synthetic rubber is produced through chemical processes using petroleum-based isoprene or other similar compounds.
Overall, isoprene is crucial in the production of natural rubber, as it is the primary monomer used to create the long chains of polymers that give rubber its elastic properties.
relation between natural rubber and isoprene
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