Question

Shellac secreted by lac insects is:
A. Natural plastic
B. Natural resin
C. Natural elastic
D. All of these

Answer 1

Hint: Lac insects are those insects that secrete lac, shellac which is a resin or can say natural rubber used for cosmetics and coating purposes. Female lac bugs secrete this resin (shellac) on the trees (mostly inThailand forests). As shellac is obtained by an insect (living being) and not synthesised through chemical processes, it is termed as a natural polymer.

Complete step by step solution:
Shellac is a resin thus this is a sticky material that sticks to trees and is removed by many processes of harvesting (cutting) of part of the tree to which lac is stuck and then it is purified by many chemical or physical processes for making its use.

Shellac is a natural polymer and using this polymer many semi-synthetic polymers can be obtained. Not only this, resin which is synthesised through a chemical process (like plastic from coal) is also similar to natural resin. Thus, we consider Shellac as natural resin (shellac) or natural plastic.

Like all resins which are elastic, sticky, and jelly-like, shellac has also the same property as resins. Due to this reason, it is a natural rubber and can be stretched at good length because of the good force between its particles.Thus, they can be moulded in any shape and can be solidified under suitable temperature and pressure conditions so, that they can be used as medicines, cosmetics, coating of furniture, jewellery, etc.
Thus, the correct option is D.

Note: The Shellac is obtained by female lac because of her long life whereas male lac is very short-lived so cannot secrete lac. Lac insects come under the category of parasite that leaves on hosts (organisms which prepare their food themselve, heterotrophs) for nutrition and shelter. Out of many species of lacs, Laccifer lacca is used to take nutrition from the host plant namely Ziziphus mauritiana found in India.