15.14 How does the presence of double bonds in rubber molecules influence their structure and reactivity?
Natural rubber is a linear polymer of isoprene (2-methyl-1, 3-butadiene) and is also called as cis - 1, 4 polyisoprenes. Due to the cis configuration about the double bond, it is difficult to come closer for effective compactness due to the weak intermolecular attraction (van der Waals). Thus natural rubber has a coiled structure and it can be stretched like spring(show elastic nature).