Editing Gutta-percha (section)

==Chemistry==
[[File:Gutta-percha.svg|thumb|Chemical structure of gutta-percha<ref>B.K. Sharma, ''Industrial Chemistry'', p. 1117, Krishna Prakashan Media, 1991 {{ISBN|8187224991}}</ref>]]

Chemically, gutta-percha is a [[terpene|polyterpene]], a [[polymer]] of [[isoprene]], or [[polyisoprene]], specifically ([[cis-trans isomerism|''trans'']]-1,4-polyisoprene).<ref name="one">{{cite book |last1=Alamgir |first1=A. N. M. |title=Therapeutic Use of Medicinal Plants and their Extracts: Volume 2: Phytochemistry and Bioactive Compounds |date=23 June 2018 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-92387-1 |page=183 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2LZhDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA183 |language=en}}</ref> The [[Cis-trans isomerism|cis]] structure of polyisoprene is the common [[latex]] [[elastomer]].<ref name="one"/> While latex rubbers are [[amorphous]] in molecular structure, gutta-percha (the trans structure) [[crystal]]lizes, leading to a more rigid material.  It exists in alpha and beta forms, with the alpha form being brittle at room temperature.<ref>{{cite book |title=Text Book of Endodontics |date=2009 |publisher=Elsevier India |isbn=978-81-312-2181-5 |page=186 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zwdyRs9HYpgC&pg=PA186 |language=en}}</ref>