Final answer:
The neutral hydrolysis of nylon 66 involves the reaction of the polymer with water under neutral conditions, resulting in the breakdown of the polymer into its monomer units.
Step-by-step explanation:
The neutral hydrolysis of nylon 66 refers to the reaction of nylon 66 with water under neutral conditions. This reaction results in the breakdown of the nylon 66 polymer into its monomer units, hexanedioic acid and hexamethylene diamine, along with the formation of water molecules. This reaction can be represented by the following equation:
Nylon 66 + H2O → Hexanedioic acid + Hexamethylene diamine
During this hydrolysis reaction, the amide bonds present in the polymer are cleaved, leading to the formation of the individual monomers.