Question from chemistry
Discuss the preparation of bakelite when phenol reacts with formaldehyde?
Debra’s Answer
I am not a chemist, but here is my layperson understanding.
Phenol and formaldehyde are two toxic chemicals, but when they react together, they form a nontoxic material called “bakelite”. This is similar to lye and fat having a chemical reaction to make soap. Lye can burn right through your skin, but when mixed with fat, it becomes soap that is very gentle to skin.
It’s created by an “elimination reaction” in which atoms in a molecule are eliminated and replaced with different atoms to make a new material.
