A short fragment of a biodegradable polymer chain (three repeat units, end groups shown) is drawn. Which of the structures shown is the product on complete hydrolysis of the ester bonds?

AStructure A
BStructure B
CStructure C
DStructure D

Answer: B

The chain is poly(glycolic acid), PGA, built from glycolic acid (hydroxyethanoic acid) units joined by ester bonds. Hydrolysis breaks each ester and returns HOCH2COOH. Lactic acid has an extra methyl, glycine has NH2 instead of OH, and ethylene glycol has no acid group.

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