Reef Chemistry Question of the Day #277: What am I?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

There are all sorts of chemicals in reef aquaria.

With the advent of ICP testing, there's a big emphasis by many on inorganic compounds, but that's only a fraction of the world of chemistry. There are actually far more organic chemicals than inorganic ones. FYI, organic chemicals contain both hydrogen and carbon, and the definition excludes certain inorganic molecules that also fit that description, such as bicarbonate.

Here's one that is likely that largest mass organic compound in many reef aquaria.

What am I?

Previous question of the day:

Reef Chemistry Question of the Day #276 Evaporation of Organic Carbon Dosing Products

 

[Malcontent]

4-Methyl-2-nitroaniline

 

[Chuk]

I’m going with methyl propanoate- 2,2 - diyl

Probably wrong and I’m sure the dashes and spaces are messed up but it’s been a long time since organic chem.

 

[J1a]

acrylic

 

[taricha]

Pretty sure I see a pirate dancing in an elevator. But I don't think that's the standard chemistry name for it.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Poly(methyl methacrylate)

Only reason I know this is we used it at the ford glass plant where I worked when I could not figure out what I wanted to do after leaving the Corp.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

And the answer is...

What am I?

Polymethylmethacrylate (acrylic, plexiglass, etc.)

The first methyl in the name (polymethylmethacrylate) is the CH3 at the bottom of the structure.
The second methyl in the name (polymethylmethacrylate) is the CH3 at the top of the structure.
Acrylate is the middle stuff with 2 oxygen and three carbon atoms.
The parentheses and the n means it repeats over and over many times, making it a polymer.