Answer to Question #71595 in Organic Chemistry for daniel

Question

What role is rendered by hydroquinone, a substance often added by manufacturers to their products that are prone to autopolymerize?

Answer 1

Hydroquinone is added to products with purpose to prevent unwanted radical reactions. Hydroquinone is a typical radical inhibitor. It reacts with active radicals creating unreactive radical (semiquinone) so further propagation of chain reactions stops.