Overview About Plastic
Plastic is a material that has been used for many years. It is not just a material that we use to make toys, it is also used in many other aspects of our lives. Plastic is usually made from fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas. These raw materials are heated to very high temperatures and mixed with other chemicals to create the different types of plastics we use every day.
In this article, we will read about the properties, uses of plastics. We will also discuss plastic facts for kids. So, without wasting time, let’s start learning.
Recycling of Plastic
Uses of Plastic
Plastic has many uses in the modern world, ranging from everyday items to dental implants.
Number of Places Where Plastic is Used
From food packaging to medical equipment, plastic is being used in every aspect of our lives. The plastic is commonly used by kids via toys,bottles,and tiffin boxes.Plastic has been used to make containers, bottles, and many other items that we use every day. But the problem with plastic is that it doesn’t break down easily and can take up to 1000 years to decompose.
It has been estimated that around 8 million tons of plastic are produced each year, and that more than half of it is thrown away after a single use. This poses a huge problem to the environment as it ends up in landfills or makes its way into our oceans and rivers, where it can remain for centuries before breaking down into tiny pieces.
We should make sure we are recycling as much as possible and using less plastic in our day-to-day lives.
Properties of Plastic
Plastic is a material that is made of a mix of organic and synthetic substances.
It is man-made and it has many properties.
Plastic is a material consisting of polymers of high molecular mass. It is typically a synthetic material made from petrochemicals, such as oil or natural gas.
The properties of plastic are similar to those of other synthetic polymers, and it usually has a high melting point, low water solubility and good chemical resistance.
Application of Plastic
Application Applied on Plastic to Use
Television, phones etc. are durable, not too heavy, and affordable as they are made using plastic. Varieties of sports tools are made using plastic like helmets, mouth guards, goggles, protective pads etc. In this case plastic helps to be sure of safety. Rugged plastic shells that cover helmets and pads help protect heads, joints, and bones from being injured severely.
In the automobile sector ,plastic has improved the performance, safety, and fuel efficiency. In product packaging, plastic aids to protect and preserve goods, and also lessen weight in transportation. This is how it helps in saving fuel and lessens greenhouse gas emissions.
A close check on the amount of plastic bags we use is important because once we dump the plastic bags away,they will just gather and create pollution, which is harmful to the environment. This should be taken into account because the plastic bags, straws, glasses, plates are just single use plastic and are then thrown away which then contributes to the pollution being created. This is how the use of plastic articles affects our everyday life.
Plastic Facts for Kids
How Plastic is Used in Everyday Life in Various Ways
We know that plastic is a huge problem for our environment. We use it, we throw it away, and we don't think about the consequences. The thing is that plastic never really goes away. It's in the oceans and in our food supply. It's time to stop using plastics and start thinking about alternatives.
Some people think that recycling is a good solution to this problem but it actually doesn't work very well. The recycling process requires too much water, energy and money to be worth the effort of collecting all these different types of plastics. Plus, even when plastics are recycled they don't always get turned into something useful like new bottles or bags.
It's time for us to take responsibility for the waste we produce. Most plastics contain two main ingredients: polymers (chains of molecules) and additives (ingredients which give the plastic certain properties).
There are a lot of things that we can do to reduce the amount of plastic in our lives. One way is by using reusable water bottles instead of single-use water bottles. Another way would be by using metal straws instead of plastic straws and finally by refusing single-use plastics when you are out shopping.
Summary
Plastic affects many people, not only the consumers but plastic bags also affect the environment and animals. We are affected by plastic items because we all dispose of them incorrectly and because we are unaware of the consequences of using plastic bags. We should be very careful while disposing of the plastics we have used already, we need to take care of the environment and that could be done only by recycling the plastic items. This article was about plastic and its characteristics. Now, we are aware of the harmful effects of plastic. We hope you enjoyed reading this article, in case of any other doubts, feel free to ask in the comments.
FAQs on Plastic Facts for Kids
1. Who invented plastic?
Belgian chemist and clever marketeer Leo Baekeland was the first one to fully produce synthetic plastic in 1907. He beat his Scottish rival, James Swinburne, to the patent office by one day. His invention, which he would name as Bakelite, combined two chemicals, formaldehyde and phenol, under heat and pressure.
2. How long will plastic last?
Plastic waste is one of many types of wastes that take too long to decompose. Normally, plastic items take up to 1000 years to decompose in landfills. But plastic bags we use in our everyday life take 10-20 years to decompose, while plastic bottles take 450 years. Thus it lasts long creating a lot of harm to the environment.
3. What will happen in 2050 with plastic?
By 2050, the gas produced by plastic production could rise to more than 2 billion tonnes. Alarmingly, at least 8 million tonnes of discarded plastic also enters our oceans each year, and plastic pollution at sea is on course to double by 2030.