EXPERIMENT No.

Reagents and equipment:

 10% resorcinol solution;

 35% formaldehyde solution;
 35% hydrochloric acid;
 beaker;
 cuvette.

Reaction Involved

When concentrated hydrochloric acid is added to a solution of resorcinol and formaldehyde, a

polymerization reaction starts, in which the molecules of resorcinol and formaldehyde bond
and form the long chain of a polymer.

Procedure

The resorcinol and formaldehyde solutions are poured into a beaker. Then a few drops of
concentrated hydrochloric acid are added, and the pale pink flakes of the polymer precipitate.
In a few minutes, the hydrochloric acid becomes evenly distributed around the test tube, and
the entire solution polymerizes to a red-pink solid polymer.