Question

Read the following article, Making Wood Last Forever to answer the following questions... a)What chemical company is a major cellulose acetate maker? b)Why does acetylated wood resist breakdown by fungi? c)What is one disadvantage to using acetylated wood?

PLEASE TYPE ANSWER CLEARLY

Answer 1

Answer a)

Eastman Chemical, is the major cellulose acetate maker company in the world.

Answer b)

• There are two primary reasons behind acelytaed wood is resistive towards fungi is:

1. Acelylation changes the chemical conformation (Note: not configuration) of the glucose. The fungi will then won't be able to recognize the modified form (i.e. acylated glucose) of glucose as food.
2. The another reason which was given by Rowell is the dryness of glucose. According to Rowell, the acylation reduces the moisture in the cell wall where there just isn’t enough to support fungal degradation. Glycosidic bonds link carbohydrate molecules in polysaccharides such as cellulose. In order to hydrolyze a glycosidic bond, a molecule of water is the primary necessity. In the absence of water at the glycosidic bond, hydrolysis can’t take place.

Answer c)

• The main disadvantage of acylated wood is:

​because cellulose is the source of the wood’s strength, therefore, acetylating cellulose in wood is undesirable.

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