Carbon And Hydrogen Atoms example essay topic
355 words
There are many types of plastics. For example: Name Used for Polythene Plastic bags and bottles, dustbins, e cling film f Polystyrene Plastic cups, fats-food cartons, packaging foam Nylon Rope, bristle for brushes, tights, carpet Melamine Unbreakable f dishes and mugs, ashtrays Urea-formaldehyde Electric plugs and switches Phenol-formaldehyde Door handles, saucepan handles Plastics have these properties: 1) They are all carbon compounds. 2) Their molecules are long chains of atoms, made by joining lots of small molecules together. So they are called polymers. Poly means many. They are produced by a reaction called polymerization. 3) Because they are molecular compounds, they do not conduct electricity. They are electrical and thermal insulators. 4) They are unreactive. Most are not affected by water, or oxygen, or other chemicals, which makes them very useful. But it also means they are difficult to dispose of. Unlike wood or paper, they do not rot away.
(But biodegradable plastics will rot away.) 5) Some catch fire easily. When they burn, they may give out harmful gases. For example, PVC gives out choking fumes of hydrogen chloride when it burns. 6) Plastics contain mainly carbon and hydrogen atoms, which are light.
So plastics are also light. But they are also strong because their molecules are so long. The longer the molecules, the larger the force of attraction between them. (As you will see on the next page, the molecules in some plastics are cross-linked, which makes them even stronger.) Plastics have these properties: 7) They are all carbon compounds. 8) Their molecules are long chains of atoms, made by joining lots of small molecules together. Poly means many.
9) Because they are molecular compounds, they do not conduct electricity. 10) They are unreactive. (But biodegradable plastics will rot away.) 11) Some catch fire easily. 12) Plastics contain mainly carbon and hydrogen atoms, which are light. (As you will see on the next page, the molecules in some plastics are cross-linked, which makes them even stronger. ).
