Polymers with ionic functional groups have been developed for removal of ions from water. One example is Amberlite. One form of Amberlite has the structure shown below, where the -SO₃H groups act like a weak acid. What type of ions will this polymer attract?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The -SO₃H groups in the polymer act like a weak acid, meaning they will donate protons to water molecules and create a positively charged environment. Therefore, this polymer will attract negatively charged ions (anions) and repel positively charged ions (cations).

Polymers with Ionic Functional Groups Have Been Developed for Removal