Polystyrene

Results:

NMR:

- Styrene: 1H NMR ᵹ (CDCL3) 7.45 (d, J=9 Hz, 2H) 7.33 (t, J=13 Hz, 2H) 7.27 (t, J=16 Hz, 1H) 6.75
(dd, J=28.2 Hz, 1H) 5.79 (d, J=18.5 Hz, 1H) 5.2 (d, J=12 Hz, 1H); 13C NMR ᵹ (CDCL3) 137.59,
136.89, 128.54, 127.77, 126.20, 113.77

1H NMR
7.45 a
7.33 b
7.27 c
6.75 d
5.79 e
5.2 f

13C NMR
137.59 A
136.89 B
128.54 C
127.77 D
126.20 E
113.77 F

- Table 1. Wavenumbers and interpretation of Polystyrene distillation product IR spectrum.

Wavenumber (cm-1) Appearance Interpretation Group

3026 Broad, Weak C-H stretching, sp Alkene
694.87 Strong C=C bending, sp Alkene

- The styrene had a RI value of 1.546

Discussion:

The purpose of this lab was to further practice distilling techniques as well as identification of a
substance using NMR, IR, and RI values/graphs.

- The beginning substance in this lab was polystyrene, so the unknown substance from the
distillation must be styrene. The NMR, IR, and RI also support this substance being styrene. The
carbon NMR had 6 carbons peaks, meaning 6 carbon environments. Styrene has six carbon
environments, with 8 total carbons. This is suggestive of a ring were there are two pairs of
carbons with the same environment such as a benzine ring, which is a component of styrene.
The Hydrogen NMR had six hydrogen environments, which is consistent with the hydrogen
environments on styrene. All of the peaks shown match up with the environments shown on the
styrene. Going left to right, the first peak is a doublet with two hydrogens on it. Styrene has a
hydrogen environment with one neighbor hydrogen and two hydrogens on it (a). Second is a
triplet with 2 hydrogen. Styrene has a hydrogen environment with two neighbors and two
hydrogen (b). Third is another triplet with one hydrogen. This corresponds to (c) on styrene
molecule. Fourth is a doublet of doublets, caused by a double carbon bond not in a ring. Styrene
has a substituent with a double bond in it (d). Fifth and sixth are both doublets with one
hydrogen. These are far forward on graph compared to the other peaks because of the shielding
they experience from the double bond. They correspond to (e & f). The IR graph also
corresponds to this substance being styrene. There were two notable peaks, both indicating an
alkene. Styrene has doubke bonds and is a cycloalkene. More specifically, the first peak at 3026
Cm-1 indicates C-H stretching with sp hybridization. Because styrene is a hydrocarbon it has
plenty of C-H bonds and because it has a ring there is a lot of sp hybridization. The second peak
is at 694.87 and indicates C=C bending with sp hybridization. There are many C=C bonds in the
benzine ring, as well as one in the substrate. The only data that did not match up well was the
RI. The RI found in the lab was 1.546, but the one found online was 1.51. these could not match
up because of impurities in the sample or error in the machine.