Question

part c which statement about the connecting ends of a polymer is true?
○ all polymer buildups and breakdowns involve two or more hydroxyl ions.
○ as polymers are broken down, the hydrogen and hydroxyl ions are necessary. however, as the molecule is built up, the hydrogen and hydroxyl ions are irrelevant.
○ all polymer buildups and breakdowns involve a hydrogen ion and a hydroxyl ion.
○ all polymer buildups and breakdowns involve two or more hydrogen ions.
○ as polymers are built up, the hydrogen and hydroxyl ions are necessary. however, as the molecule is broken down, the hydrogen and hydroxyl ions are irrelevant.

Explanation:

To determine the correct statement, we analyze polymer synthesis (condensation polymerization, where monomers combine, releasing a water molecule, which contains H and OH) and breakdown (hydrolysis, where water is added to break polymers, involving H⁺ and OH⁻).

• Option 1: Incorrect. Polymer buildup (condensation) and breakdown (hydrolysis) involve H and OH (from water), so they aren’t irrelevant.
• Option 2: Incorrect. Polymer processes (buildup/breakdown) involve H and OH (from water in condensation/hydrolysis), so they are necessary, not irrelevant during buildup.
• Option 3: Incorrect. Polymer reactions involve one H (from one monomer) and one OH (from another) in condensation (releasing H₂O), or one H₂O (providing one H and one OH) in hydrolysis. They don’t involve “two or more” H⁺ ions.
• Option 4: Incorrect. The description misstates the role of H and OH—they are necessary in both buildup (condensation, releasing H₂O) and breakdown (hydrolysis, using H₂O).
• The correct logic: Polymer buildup (condensation) forms bonds by releasing H₂O (so H and OH from monomers are involved), and breakdown (hydrolysis) uses H₂O (supplying H and OH) to break bonds. However, the fifth option (correctly framed) would align with: As polymers are built up, the hydrogen and hydroxyl ions are necessary (to form water). However, as the molecule is broken down, the hydrogen and hydroxyl ions are also involved (from water in hydrolysis). But among the given, the key is recognizing that polymer reactions (buildup/breakdown) involve one H and one OH (from water or monomers), so the statement “All polymer buildups and breakdowns involve a hydrogen ion and a hydroxyl ion” is correct (since condensation releases H₂O (H⁺ + OH⁻) and hydrolysis uses H₂O (H⁺ + OH⁻)).

Answer:

The correct option is: "All polymer buildups and breakdowns involve a hydrogen ion and a hydroxyl ion." (The third option in the list, as per the original formatting: "All polymer buildups and breakdowns involve a hydrogen ion and a hydroxyl ion.")