Answer:
The Mark-Houwink equation relates the intrinsic viscosity of a polymer solution to the molecular weight of the polymer. The equation is given by:
[η] = K * M^α
where [η] is the intrinsic viscosity, K is a constant that depends on the solvent and temperature, M is the molecular weight of the polymer, and α is a parameter that characterizes the shape of the polymer molecule.
The alpha value for the Mark-Houwink equation depends on the conformation of the polymer molecule in solution. A lower alpha value indicates that the polymer molecule becomes more compact in solution, while a higher alpha value indicates that the polymer molecule is more extended in solution.
In the given problem, the alpha value for the polymer in water is 0.75 at room temperature and 0.4 at 75 °C. This means that the polymer molecule becomes more compact in water as the temperature is increased. At room temperature, the polymer molecule is more extended in solution, while at 75 °C it is more compact. This change in conformation of the polymer molecule in water as a function of temperature is likely due to changes in the solvent-polymer interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
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