isoprene

[ ahy-suh-preen ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Chemistry.

a colorless, volatile, water-insoluble liquid, C 5 H 8 , of the terpene class, usually obtained from rubber or from oil of turpentine by pyrolysis: used chiefly in the manufacture of synthetic rubber by polymerization.

isoprene

/ ˈaɪsəʊˌpriːn /

a colourless volatile liquid with a penetrating odour: used in making synthetic rubbers. Formula: CH 2 :CHC(CH 3 ):CH 2 Systematic namemethylbuta-1,3-diene

isoprene

/ ī′sə-prēn′ /

A colorless, volatile liquid obtained from petroleum or coal tar and occurring naturally in many plants. It is used chiefly to make synthetic rubber. The isoprene in plants occurs in the chloroplasts and is used to build terpenes and other biologically important chemicals. Chemical formula: C 5 H 8 .

1855–60; iso- + -pr- (< ?) + -ene; terpene

C20: from iso- + pr ( opyl ) + -ene

You will see that the isoprene consists of a chain of four carbon atoms (represented by the C's) with an extra carbon on the side.

What reagent could be found that would reverse the reaction and convert the liquid isoprene into the solid rubber?

From fusel oil by the use of chlorine isoprene can be prepared, so the chain was complete.

We can get isoprene by the distillation of turpentine—but why not bleed a rubber tree as well as a pine tree?

Petroleum when cracked up to make gasoline gives isoprene or other double-bond compounds that go over into some form of rubber.

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