The plastic known as PETE (polyethyleneterephthalate) is a polymer of terephthalic acid an...

The plastic known as PETE (polyethyleneterephthalate) is a polymer of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. PETE is used to make plastic soft drink bottles and containers for salad dressings, shampoos, and dishwashing liquids. Today, PETE is the most widely recycled of all the plastics; in a single year, 2.4 X 109 lb of PETE are recycled. After PETE is separated from other plastics, it can be used in polyester fabric, fill for sleeping bags, door mats, and tennis ball containers. The density of PETE is 1.38 g/mL.

Terephthalic acid

Ethylene glycol

Plastic bottles made of PETE are ready to be recycled.

a. Draw the condensed structural formula for the ester formed from one molecule of terephthalic acid and one molecule of ethylene glycol.

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b. Draw the condensed structural formula for the product formed when a second molecule of ethylene glycol reacts with the ester you drew for the answer in part a.

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c. How many kilograms of PETE are recycled in one year?

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d. What volume, in liters, of PETE is recycled in one year?

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e. Suppose a landfill with an area of a football field and a depth of 5.0 m holds 2.7 X 107 L of recycled PETE. If all of the PETE that is recycled in a year were placed instead in landfills, how many would it fill?