Maya Ellison
Plastic is a synthetic or semi-synthetic material composed primarily of polymers, which are molecules formed from chains of carbon atoms, with or without the attachment of oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur atoms. The word plastic comes from the Latin plasticus, meaning capable of molding, and plastikos in Greek, which translates to fit for molding. Plastics are classified by their chemical composition, physical properties, and manufacturing applications. They are produced from natural gas, petroleum, and increasingly, renewable resources. The success of plastics since the early 20th century has brought benefits such as lightweight construction materials and medical devices, but their slow decomposition has also led to widespread environmental concerns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Composition | Synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers |
| Polymer Composition | Chains of carbon atoms, with or without oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, silicon, or chlorine atoms |
| Polymer Structure | A backbone of several thousand repeating units with molecular groups called side chains hanging from it |
| Properties | Low weight, durability, flexibility, chemical resistance, low toxicity, and low-cost production |
| Production | Derived from crude oil, natural gas, coal, or renewable resources like polylactic acid |
| Production Amount | 50 kg of plastic is produced annually per person worldwide, doubling every ten years |
| Uses | Medical devices, construction materials, packaging, automobiles, furniture, toys, plumbing, hardware |
| Environmental Concerns | Slow decomposition rate, plastic pollution, microplastics, low reuse and recycling rates |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic is made from polymers, which are chains of carbon atoms
- Other elements found in plastic include oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, and chlorine
- Plastic is classified by its synthesis, physical properties, and reactions to substances
- Synthetic plastics are derived from fossil fuels, including crude oil and natural gas
- Biobased plastics are made from renewable products such as carbohydrates, fats, and oils
Plastic is made from polymers, which are chains of carbon atoms
Plastic is a synthetic or semisynthetic material composed primarily of polymers. These polymers are large molecules formed by covalently joining many smaller units, known as monomers, together in the form of chains. The word 'polymer' itself comes from the Greek 'poly', meaning 'many', and 'mer', meaning 'repeating unit'.
Plastics are usually classified by the chemical structure of the polymer's backbone and side chains. The backbone is the part of the chain that is on the main path, linking together a large number of repeat units. Different molecular groups called side chains hang from this backbone, influencing the properties of the polymer.
The majority of these polymers are formed from chains of carbon atoms, with or without the attachment of oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, or silicon atoms. Each polymer chain consists of several thousand carbon atoms, which are able to pair up with four other electrons from any element on the periodic table to make chemical bonds. These chains comprise many repeating units formed from monomers.
The world's first fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite, invented in 1907 by Leo Baekeland, who coined the term 'plastics'. Today, plastics are most commonly produced from hydrocarbons derived from crude oil, natural gas, and coal. However, a growing minority are produced from renewable resources, such as polylactic acid.
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Other elements found in plastic include oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, and chlorine
Plastics are composed of organic polymers, which are large molecules formed by covalently joining many monomer-repeating units together in the form of chains. The most common polymer is composed of chains of carbon atoms, with or without attached oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, or hydrogen atoms. These polymers are known as heterochain polymers.
Hetchain polymers are one of two distinct categories of plastics based on their chemical composition. The other category is composed of polymers with only aliphatic (linear) carbon atoms in their backbone chains.
Oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, and hydrogen atoms are attached to the backbone chains of heterochain polymers. These backbone chains are the main path of the polymer chain, linking together a large number of repeating units. The structure of these chains influences the properties of the polymer.
Other elements found in plastic include chlorine and silicon. Silicon is a type of polymer known as silicone, which is produced from silicon atoms. An example of a product made from silicone is breast implants.
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Plastic is classified by its synthesis, physical properties, and reactions to substances
Plastic is a synthetic material composed of organic polymers, which are themselves formed from chains of carbon atoms, with or without oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur atoms. The defining characteristic of plastic is its plasticity, or ability to be moulded or shaped, usually by the application of heat and pressure.
Plastics can be classified in several ways. One is by the chemical process used in their synthesis, such as condensation, polyaddition, and cross-linking. Another is by their physical properties, such as hardness, density, tensile strength, thermal resistance, and glass transition temperature.
Plastics can also be classified by their resistance and reactions to various substances and processes, such as exposure to organic solvents, oxidation, and ionizing radiation. For example, biodegradable plastics are those that break down upon exposure to biological factors such as sunlight, ultra-violet radiation, moisture, bacteria, enzymes, or wind abrasion.
Other classifications are based on qualities relevant to manufacturing or product design, such as thermoplastics, thermosets, conductive polymers, and engineering plastics.
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Synthetic plastics are derived from fossil fuels, including crude oil and natural gas
Plastic is a synthetic or semisynthetic material composed primarily of polymers. The world's first fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite, invented in New York in 1907 by Leo Baekeland, who coined the term "plastics". Synthetic plastics are derived from fossil fuels, including crude oil and natural gas.
Fossil fuels are mainly composed of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur, oxygen, and other minerals. They are formed from the remains of living organisms, such as plankton, that existed during the Jurassic era. Over time, these organisms were buried beneath heavy layers of sediment and subjected to extreme heat and pressure, causing them to decompose without oxygen and transform into tiny pockets of oil and gas. Crude oil and natural gas accumulate in reservoirs, often found at the bottom of oceans.
In the context of plastic production, fossil fuels provide the raw materials for the petrochemical industry. Naphtha, a mixture of hydrocarbons derived from crude oil distillation, is a crucial feedstock for producing petrochemical crackers, which create the building blocks for plastics. Additionally, natural gas and its derivatives serve as feedstocks for the production of plastics.
The process of steam cracking is employed to break down hydrocarbons from fossil fuels into smaller molecules called monomers, such as ethylene, propylene, and butene. These monomers have double bonds that enable carbon atoms to react and form polymers, which are the foundation of plastics.
While synthetic plastics are predominantly derived from fossil fuels, there is a growing trend towards using renewable resources, such as waste biomass or animal-waste products, to produce biobased plastics. However, the majority of plastic in use today is still synthetic due to the ease of manufacturing methods associated with processing crude oil.
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Biobased plastics are made from renewable products such as carbohydrates, fats, and oils
Plastic is a broad term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. Plastics are usually classified by the chemical structure of the polymer's backbone and side chains. The most common plastics are derived from natural gas and petroleum, but a growing number are produced from renewable resources.
Biobased plastics, also known as bioplastics, are made from renewable biomass sources, including crops, wood pulp, and herbaceous fibers. They are produced from renewable resources such as carbohydrates, vegetable oils, and fats in the presence of microorganisms. These bioplastics are technically easy to implement as existing infrastructure can be used.
Bioplastics have similar physical properties to synthetic plastics, but they are degradable by microbes such as fungi, bacteria, and yeasts. Bioplastics are used for disposable items such as packaging, crockery, cutlery, pots, bowls, and straws. They are also used in the pharmaceutical sector for the production of drug capsules.
The shift from petrochemical plastics to bioplastics is important due to its impact on climate protection and carbon footprint. Bioplastics have a reduced dependency on fossil fuels, which have been linked to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental issues. Bioplastics also provide the option of end product reclamation and energy recovery, making them a potential renewable resource.
While bioplastics offer a more sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, they face challenges in terms of adaptability to existing manufacturing lines, performance, and cost. However, with growing environmental concerns and the demand for renewable resources, bioplastics are gaining interest from various sectors.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastics are synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. Most plastics contain organic polymers, which are formed from chains of carbon atoms, with or without oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur atoms.
Polymers are larger molecules formed by covalently joining many monomer units together in the form of chains. The terms polymer and monomer are derived from the Greek words 'poly' meaning 'many', 'mer' meaning 'repeating unit', and 'mono' meaning 'one'.
Some common polymers used in plastics include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene.
Plastics are made through various chemical processes such as condensation, polyaddition, and cross-linking. They are derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal.
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