Question:
How does the presence of double bonds in rubber molecules influence their structure and reactivity?
Solution:
Natural rubber is a linear cis-polyisoprene in which the double bonds are present between C2 and C3 of the isoprene units.
Because of this cis-configuration, intermolecular interactions between the various strands of isoprene are quite weak. As a result, various strands in natural rubber are arranged randomly. Hence, it shows elasticity.