Why do rubber plantation workers add a dilute alkaline solution of ammonia () to fresh latex collection cups to prevent premature coagulation?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. Hydroxide ions neutralize bacterial acids, maintaining negative charges on rubber particles

  1. Step 1: Analyze bacterial action in harvested latex: ambient bacteria ferment sugars in latex serum, producing organic acids that cause spontaneous coagulation.
  2. Step 2: Adding ammonia provides basic hydroxide ions () that neutralize bacterial acids and kill bacteria, preserving the repulsive negative surface charges on the rubber membranes and preventing coagulation during transit.
Answer
Hydroxide ions neutralize bacterial acids, maintaining negative charges on rubber particles.
Why not the others: 'Ammonia acts as a chemical bleaching agent that purifies the rubber coagulum' is false; 'Ammonia accelerates natural fermentation, producing alcohol that keeps latex fluid' is false as ammonia halts bacterial fermentation; 'Ammonia creates covalent bonds between rubber particles, solidifying the mixture' contradicts the purpose of preventing coagulation.

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