Volume 16| March 2023 ISSN: 2795-7667

Calculation of the Molecular Weight

of a Polymer by the Experimental
Method

H.A. Khaydarova Teacher at the Department of Biological Chemistry,

Bukhara State Medical Institute

The article describes the most convenient and simple process - the viscometric method
for the experimental determination of the molecular weight of a polymer. With the
ABSTRACT

introduction of the developed methodology in the laboratory practice of the chemistry of

macromolecular compounds, the comprehensibility of students will average 72-89%.

Keywords: molecular compounds, molecular weight, solubility,

macromolecule, viscometer, rubber, polystyrene,

One of the main features that distinguish macromolecular compounds and the shape of
high molecular weight compounds from low the macromolecule. In this case, all
molecular weight substances is that they have a macromolecules in solution are in a strictly
large molecular weight. Molecular weight is the linear form, in the form of a cylinder. This ratio
most important constant for polymers and is a is explained by the following equation:
necessary indicator for a complete description  −1
of each high molecular weight compound. M = нис
КС
Changes that occur during the In this case, ηnis is the relative viscosity,
processing of polymers and their operation can K is the constant characteristic of the given
be detected by molecular weight. polymer, c is the molar concentration, mol/l.
The molecular weight determines the The value of K is reflected in the specific
temperature yield strength of the compound, chemical structure of the macromolecule and is
its properties such as swelling and solubility. constant for the same polymer in a given
Its value is greatly influenced by the solvent. Relative viscosity - (ηnis) - is the ratio
mechanical properties of polymers, including of the flow rate of the solution to the flow rate
strength, deformation, and elasticity. The of the solvent. The flow rate is determined on a
molecular weight inherent in low molecular viscometer.
weight compounds, the simple and clear In the laboratory, we determined the molecular
concepts associated with them, are extremely weight of several polymers using the
complex compared to high molecular weight viscometric method. The following is a
compounds. procedure for determining the molecular
The most convenient and simple method weight of polymethyl methacrylate,
for experimental determination of the polystyrene and natural rubber.
molecular weight of polymers is the
viscometric method. The German scientist
Staudinger found that the viscosity of solutions
depends on the size of the molecular weight of

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Volume 16| March 2023 ISSN: 2795-7667
Determination of the molecular weight of mark. The stopwatch stops and the result is
polymethyl methacrylate recorded. The process is repeated 3-4 times
To determine the molecular weight of and an average value is obtained. For example:
polymethyl methacrylate, two laboratory I result - 94.5 sec; II result - 94.6 sec; III result -
experiments were carried out. 94.7 sec. The average time is 94.6 seconds.
First lab work Then the viscometer is removed from
Students are briefly introduced to the thermostat with water, the solvent is
solutions of high molecular weight compounds, poured into another vessel, the device is
focusing more on the relationship between washed and dried in an oven.
viscosity and molecular weight. Then the In this lab, students prepare a 1%
structure and maintenance of the viscometer solution of poly(methyl methacrylate) in
device are explained. benzene. To do this, take a clean and dry test
The Ostwald viscometer consists of a U-shaped tube, fill it with 0.2 g of polymethyl
glass tube (shown in the figure). One side of the methacrylate and pour 20 ml of benzene,
tube is expanded, and the other side is stopper and leave at room temperature for 3.0-
provided with a capillary with a diameter of 3.5 hours.
0.6-1.0 mm. An expanded sphere with a volume
of 2-3 ml is attached to the upper part of the Second Lab
capillary. Attached to the bottom of the Students determine the flow rate of the
expanded glass tube is a small tube, on which polymethyl methacrylate solution in the same
the top and bottom of the spherical extension way as they determined the flow rate of the
(A and B) are marked. The viscometer is solvent in the first laboratory work. (The
installed on a water thermostat at a temperature in the thermostat must be the
temperature of 200C. same for solvent and solution)
The relative viscosity is calculated, the found
value is entered into the equation and the
molecular weight is determined
Below are the molecular weight
calculations for poly(methyl methacrylate)
obtained under laboratory conditions:
Solution transit time: 235.8 sec
(average)
t 235,8
нис = 1 = = 2,493 К = 2,4 *10-4
t0 94,6
1 1
Ostwald viscometer М = (нис − 1)  = (2,493 − 1)  = (2,493 −
12 ml of a solvent, such as benzene, is poured KC 2,4  10− 4  0,1
into the expanded part (this part must be filled
with a solvent). There should be no air bubbles Determination of the molecular
in the capillary. (In general, the liquid should weight of polystyrene
not be drawn by mouth, otherwise an accident Prepared a 1% solution of polystyrene
may occur, since many solvents are toxic) in benzene. (0.2 g of polystyrene add 20 ml of
After removing the rubber nozzle, we benzene and leave for 3 hours). Some students
observe that benzene is poured into the prepare block polystyrene (industrially
expanded part of the viscometer. When liquid produced polystyrene) in the same way, while
(A) reaches the top of the mark, a stopwatch is other students prepare emulsion polystyrene
used and the time is set until the second (laboratory derived polystyrene) solutions.
volume of solvent (B) reaches the bottom of the

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Volume 16| March 2023 ISSN: 2795-7667
Constants K and α in the equation [η]=КМα
№ Polymers Elementary link Solvent Temperat К∙10-4 α
ure 0С
1 Polystyrene -СН2-СН(С6Н5)- Toluene 25 1,28 0,70
Benzene 25 4,17 0,60
2 Polyacrylonitrile -СН2-СН(СN)- Dimethyl 20 1,75 0,66
formamide 25 3,95 0,75
3 Polyvinyl acetate -СН2-СН- Acetone 50 2,82 0,67
│
ОСОСН3

4 Polyisoprene -СН2-С=СН-СН2 │ Toluene 25 3,60 0,64

Rubber (natural) СН3 Benzene 20 14,0 0,50

5 Polymethyl -СН2-С(СН3)- Chloroform 20 0,94 0,75

methacrylate │ Benzene 20 2,40 0,54
СООСН3

6 Polymethyl acrylate -СН2-С(СН3)- Benzene 30 0,45 0,78

│
СООСН3

7 Polyacrylamide -СН2-СH- Water 25 0,631 0,80

│
СОNН2

Determination of the molecular weight of students determine the molecular weight of

polystyrene emulsion polystyrene obtained in industry. For
Prepared a 1% solution of polystyrene example,
in benzene. (0.2 g of polystyrene add 20 ml of Industrially obtained block polystyrene М =
benzene and leave for 3 hours). Some students (3,58 -1) * 24980 = 64448,4
prepare block polystyrene (industrially Lab made emulsion polystyrene М = (2,33 -1)
produced polystyrene) in the same way, while *24980 = 33223,4
other students prepare emulsion polystyrene Industrially produced emulsion polystyrene М
(laboratory derived polystyrene) solutions. = (8,7 - 1) * 24980 =192346
Solution transit time: 220.5 sec (average) Determination of the molecular weight of
220,5 natural rubber
нис = = 2,330 К = 4,17 *10-4
94,6 Prepared a 0.2-0.3% solution of rubber
1 in benzene. Placed 40-50 mg of rubber into the
10000
М = (2,330 − 1)  = ( 2,330 − 1)  flask, = 33250
poured 20 ml of benzene and closed the
4,17  10− 4  0,096 4,17  0,096
neck with a cork and left for 12 hours.
Before determining the molecular
Then each student receives an weight of rubber, undissolved rubber is
additional task: some students calculate the separated from the solution (filtered through a
molecular weight of industrial block cotton swab) and then the concentration of the
polystyrene, some students calculate the solution is determined. To do this, take 2 ml of
molecular weight of emulsion polystyrene the solution and place it in a porcelain bowl,
obtained in the laboratory, the rest of the

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Volume 16| March 2023 ISSN: 2795-7667
evaporate the solution, measure the residue are used to determine the areas of application
and calculate the concentration of 2 ml of the of polymers.
solution. Thus, the proposed laboratory method
The relative viscosity of rubber is for the experimental calculation of the
determined at 200C. Knowing the molar molecular weight of a polymer has a positive
concentration and the constant (1.4 * 10-4) effect on increasing knowledge, acquiring the
(from the table below), students calculate the skills to apply their knowledge in practice and
molecular weight of natural rubber. developing students' qualifications for
Solution transit time: 118.4 sec (average) determining the molecular weight of polymers.
118,4
нис = = 1,298
94,6 К = 1,4 *10-4
Used literature:
1
М = (1,298 − 1)  = 11028,87 1. Касьянова, А. А., & Добрынина, Л. Е.
1,4  10 − 4  0,193 (1979). Лабораторный практикум по
физике и химии
The proposed method was applied in высокомолекулярных
group 2.1.Chem.-17. The group consisted of 20 соединений. М.: Легкая индустрия.
students who were divided into 4 groups. Of 2. Workshop on macromolecular
these, in 3 groups, non-traditional methods for compounds. Under the editorship of
determining the molecular weight were carried Prof. V.A.Kabanov - M: "Chemistry" -
out, and in 1 group, the traditional method, that 1985. - p.80-113
is, based on the methodology given in the 3. Аввакумова, Н. И., Бударина, Л. А.,
source [4]. The students of group I were Дивгун, С. М., Заикин, А. Е., Кузнецов,
instructed to determine the "Molecular weight Е. В., & Куренков, В. Ф. (1990).
of polymethyl methacrylate", the students of Практикум по химии и физике
group II to determine the "Molecular weight of полимеров. М.: Химия, 2. p.218-220
polystyrene", the students of group III to 4. Mavlonov B.A., Mustafoev Kh.M.,
determine the "Molecular weight of natural Khaidarov A.A. Laboratory workshop on
rubber", and the students of group IV to macromolecular compounds, textbook. -
determine the molecular weight of the polymer Bukhara, "Muallif" -1996. – pp.17-19.
in the traditional way. 5. Khudoynazarova G.A., Mavlonov B.A.,
During the experiment, it was noted that Khaidarov A.A. Laboratory workshop on
students of groups I, II and III quickly and the chemistry of macromolecular
accurately determined the molecular weights compounds, textbook. –Bukhara,
of polymers. Group IV students, on the other “Bukhara” 2020. 272p.
hand, spent a lot of time experimenting and 6. Худойназарова Г.А., Мавланов
experienced great difficulty in determining the Б.А.,Азимова Н.И.,Олимова Ф.
molecular weight of a polymer based on a Исследование сополимеризации
complex equation. стирола с гетероциклическими
At the end of the experiments, when a эфирами акриловых кислот и
report was received from the students of the применение в семинарских и
groups, the mastery of the laboratory topic in самостоятельных занаятиях химии
groups I, II and III averaged 72-89%, while the ВМС. Междисциплинарные
mastery of students in group IV was 60-74%. исследования в науке и образовании.
A technique has been developed for – 2012. -№1 Kg; URL:
conducting laboratory classes to determine the www.rs.rae.ru/mino/159-1208.
molecular weight of polymers using a Украина, г.Киев.
viscometric method for determining the
viscosity of polymer solutions. The results
obtained are of great practical importance and

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