Question

Polyethylene consists of fibrous molecules of covalently bonded atoms tangled and interacting like the fibers of cotton ball. Weaker van der Waals forces act between the molecules with a strength that is inversely related to the separation distance. A. What properties of Polyethylene can be attributed to the covalent bonding? B. What properties are most likely the result of the weaker van der Waals forces? C. If we pull on the ends of cotton ball, the cotton fibers go from a random arrangement to an array of somewhat aligned fibers. Assuming we get a similar response from deformed polyethylene, how might properties change and why?