Plastic

• What type of plastics are mostly used?

  Synthetic plastics
• What are the key properties of plastics?

  • Capable of being molded
  • Durable
  • Cheap
  • Light
  • Insulators of heat and electricity
  • Easy to dye
  • Strong yet flexible
  • Waterproof
• What is the first step in the manufacture of plastics?

  Crude oil undergoes fractional distillation
• What is collected after the fractional distillation of crude oil?

  Ethane is collected
• What is formed when monomers of ethane are bonded together?

  A long chain polymer called polythene
• What is the process that converts many monomers into a large polymer called?

  Polymerisation
• What are some common uses of plastics?

  • Insulating wires and electrical equipment
  • Insulating houses
  • Making windows
  • Packaging of food and equipment
  • Buckets
  • Toys
  • Pipes
  • Clothes
  • Carpets
• What is a major environmental impact of plastics?

  They are non-biodegradable
• What happens to plastics when they are thrown out?

  They do not break down
• What are the consequences of plastics filling landfills?

  They kill animals and fill landfills
• What is produced when plastic is burned?

  Dioxins are produced
• What should we do to manage plastic waste effectively?

  Reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics
• What are the best practices for dealing with plastic waste?

  • Reduce the amount of plastics used
  • Reuse old plastic products
  • Recycle what is no longer needed