CHAPTER X 



THE CHEMISTRY OF INDIA-RUBBER 



THE chemical composition and behaviour of india- 

 rubber are among the most difficult problems with 

 which the organic chemist is confronted. The nature 

 of these problems can only be indicated here in the 

 barest outline. For further information the works of 

 Weber and of Schidrowitz should be consulted. The 

 latter gives references to the original chemical papers 

 down to the end of 1910. 



Technically pure rubber consists of crude com- 

 mercial rubber which has been thoroughly washed and 

 dried in vacuo. Much of the rubber produced on 

 plantations is therefore already practically in this 

 condition. The difficulties which stand in the way of 

 the further study of this substance may be stated in 

 the words of Weber : " These difficulties are physical 

 rather than chemical, that is to say they do not so 

 much consist in the functional complexity of india- 

 rubber as in the circumstance that these molecules 

 are only known with the colloidal state superimposed 

 upon them." 



