Answer:

• Bakelite is a polymer formed by the condensation reaction between phenol and formaldehyde. These types of polymers are also called Phcnoplasts or PF resins.

• Preparation: The first step in the preparation of Bakelite involves the reaction between phenol and formaldehyde to give methylol derivatives of phenol. They can be mono or di or trimethylol phenol. The product formation depends on the ratio of formaldehyde to phenol. This process is called methylolation.

   

• In the next step, in the presence of acid catalyst, if the molar ratio of phenol to formaldehyde is more than one, then a linear polymer called Novolac resin is formed.