Bromination of Saturated and Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
Dehydration of Sugar by Sulfuric Acid
Organic Synthesis With Familiar Materials
Oxidation of Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Alcohols
Underwater Fireworks: Chlorination of Acetylene
Differences in Miscibility of Organic Alcohols With Increasing Chain Length
Combustion of Cellulose Nitrate (Guncotton)
Different Smells of Carvone Isomers
Distinguishing Between HD and LD Polyethylene
Enviro-bond: Cleaning Oil Spills
Esterification Using a Dean-Stark Trap
IR Demonstration I- Atomic Coupling
IR Demonstration II – Molecular Vibrations
IR Demonstrations III – Molecular Vibrations
Making a Rubber Ball from Latex
Reaction Intermediates in Organic Chemistry
Reducing Sugars and Fehling’s Solution
Rod Climbing by a Polymer Solution
Superabsorbent Polyacrylate Gel
Aniline Hydrochloride-Formaldehyde Polymer
Relative Reactivity of Reducing Agents
Optical Activity of Racemic Mixture With Limonene
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution Reaction/ EAS Reaction
Reactivity of Alkanes vs Aromatic Compounds
Relationship of Absorbed Light to Observed Color
Density and Miscibility of Liquids
Extraction of Copper Ions From Solution With Orform®
Gel Formation with Sodium Alginate and Calcium Chloride
Hydrolysis of T-Butyl Chloride: A Lecture and Lab Experiment
Terephthalate Monomerization

Description: A PETE soda bottle is placed in a sodium hydroxide bath. Some hydroxide is also placed in the bottle along with a stir bar. The liquid is heated and after 25 minutes, the phthalate will dissolve.

Sources: Maynard, J.H., Schreiner, R.S., 2009
Year: 2009 Vol: N/A Page: N/A
Keywords: Terephthalate, Monomer, Polymer, Base, Solubility
Rating:
![]()
Hazard: Some
- Corrosive to metals
- Skin corrosion hazard
- Serious eye damage
- Acute aquatic toxicity hazard
- Electric shock hazard
- Burn hazard
Effectiveness: Average
- Time to results is medium
- Some connection from demo to course material
- Results are observable without guidance
- Good reliability
- Mild effects are observed by audience
- Contrast between system behavior is noticeable
Difficulty: Medium
- Use of toxic or corrosive reagents
- Demos at non-standard conditions
- Simple manipulations for most to perform
- Some intermediate steps to results
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- Thermal gloves recommended
- Avoid exposure to droplets, mists, or vapors
- Perform in a well-ventilated area
- Absorbent material on hand
- Sodium bicarbonate on hand
Class: Polymers, Organic Chemistry
Division: General, Organic Chemistry
Return to General Chemistry Demonstration