Question

can anyone explain the Preperation of bakelite from phenol reacting with formaldehyde in presence of either acid or base catalyst

Answer 1

firsly o and/or p hydroxymethy phenol derivatives which further react with phenol to form compounds where rings are joined to each other with CH2 groups .Initially a linear product is obtained . On Further heating with formaldehyde novolac the linear polymer undergoes cross linking which results in Bakelite.