Ethylene glycol is an important organic compound. It is used as one of the raw materials in the manufacture of which synthetic fibre known for its use in textiles and plastic bottles?

Introduction / Context:
Ethylene glycol is a simple dihydric alcohol that has several industrial uses, including as an antifreeze and as a raw material in polymer production. One of its most important roles in polymer chemistry is as a starting material for a widely used synthetic fibre. This question asks which synthetic fibre is manufactured using glycol, linking organic chemistry with materials science and everyday synthetic fabrics.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The compound in question is glycol, commonly referring to ethylene glycol (HO CH2 CH2 OH).
• We are looking for a synthetic fibre that uses glycol as a key raw material.
• The options include several widely known fibres and polymers.
• The question focuses on school level names rather than detailed polymer structures.

Concept / Approach:
Terylene is the trade name for polyethylene terephthalate, often abbreviated as PET. Terylene is produced by the condensation polymerisation of ethylene glycol with terephthalic acid or its dimethyl ester. During this reaction, ester linkages form and long chains of PET are produced. Nylon is made from diamines and dicarboxylic acids, artificial silk commonly refers to rayon produced from cellulose, and rubber and polyvinyl chloride have different raw materials. Therefore, the fibre directly associated with glycol as a raw material is terylene.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Polymer chemistry references describe PET as a polyester made from ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. Terylene fibres are used in clothing, plastic bottles, films, and many other products. Diagrams of the polymerisation process always show glycol as one of the monomers. In contrast, nylon is described as a polyamide and does not list glycol as a key raw material. Rayon processes focus on cellulose, and rubber chemistry focuses on isoprene based monomers. This strong association between glycol and terylene confirms the choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Nylon: A polyamide made from diamines and dicarboxylic acids such as hexamethylene diamine and adipic acid, not from glycol.
• Artificial silk: Usually refers to rayon made from regenerated cellulose, not from glycol.
• Rubber: Natural rubber is made from isoprene units; synthetic rubbers come from related unsaturated monomers, not from glycol.
• Polyvinyl chloride: A polymer of vinyl chloride monomer and not produced from ethylene glycol.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse different synthetic fibres, especially nylon and terylene, because both are used in textiles and appear together in exam questions. Another common mistake is to assume that all synthetic fibres use similar raw materials. The best way to avoid this is to remember a few key pairings: nylon with diamine plus dicarboxylic acid, terylene with glycol plus terephthalic acid, and rayon with cellulose. Associating each fibre with its monomers or starting materials helps in answering such questions accurately.

Final Answer:
Ethylene glycol is used as a raw material in the manufacture of the synthetic fibre Terylene.