Plastic is a
boon as well as a curse. It all depends how and for what purpose the plastic
materials are used. Plastic is non-reactive to chemicals like acid, base and
salts. Plastic is lightweight and cost-effective. It is very strong and
insulator of heat and current. The raw material for preparing plastic is
petrochemicals. The fossil fuels are used for manufacturing plastic products. Plastics
are of basically two types- A. Thermoplastics-
Which can be moulded again by heating. E.g.- P.V.C. , Nylon, Polythene etc. B. Thermosetting plastics –Which cannot be
remoulded by heating. E.g.- Bakelite and Melamine Plastics. Plastic bags are
non-biodegradable and take several years to degenerate in nature. The thickness
of plastic bags decides its natural degeneration time. Single use plastic (S.U.P.)
account about 40 % of all the plastic products. All over the world more than 450
million tons of plastic products are manufactured every year. In the last 15-20
years more than 50 % of all the plastic products are manufactured. According to a research study about 8 million ton
plastic is discharged in the ocean from coastal countries every year. (Source:
National Geographic, ‘The World’s Plastic Pollution Crisis Explained’ by Laura
Parker). Plastic wastes can be found everywhere from mountains to oceans and inhabited to uninhabited
areas. Burning of plastic wastes cause air pollution and health hazards. Plastic
wastes are harming the humans and wildlife as well as their habitats. One
alternative that is used for changing plastic wastes into useful thing is
making the plastic roads. It will long lasting and used for recycling the
plastic. The plastic wastes can be converted to petrochemicals by specific
processes. Therefore, the reduced use, recycle, reuse and recover (4R) are the
best methods to sort out the ever increasing environmental issue of plastic
pollution.
Answer
the following questions based on your understanding. Total Marks = 20
M.C.Qs. 1 x 2 =2
Q.1 Which of the following is not a characteristics of plastics?
(a) Reactive
(b) Non-biodegradable
(c) Lightweight
(d) Poor conductor of heat
Q.2 Which among these is a thermosetting plastic?
(a) Nylon
(b) Polythene
(c) Melamine
(d) P.V.C. (Polyvinyl chloride)
Fill in the Blanks by selecting the best
given option. 1 x 2 = 2
Q.3 ……………….get deformed on heating.
{Thermoplastics/ Thermosetting plastics}
Q.4 Single use plastics account about ……… % of all the plastic products.
{ 40, 30, 20, 50)
Short Answer Type Question 3 x 2 =6
Q.5 Why plastic containers are favoured for storing foods?
Q.6 Why Nylon rope is preferred for mountaineering and making parachutes?
Long Answer Type Question 5 x 2 =10
Q.7 Describe an activity to show that plastic is an insulator of current.
Q.8 What will you can do if you see lots of plastic garbage is thrown out side your house?
Lunar Eclipse
