Question

Disposal of plastic is a major problem because:
(A) It is non biodegradable.
(B) It is biodegradable.
(C) It takes several years to decompose.
(D) (1) & (3) both

Answer 1

Hint:Nowadays, plastics are used in every store and workplaces for packing of materials. Once the plastic is used it cannot be used again. The plastic is made up of chain polymerization of a single monomer unit and thus cannot be decomposed by microorganism easily.

Complete step by step answer:Biodegradable materials: Biodegradable materials are those which can be broken down easily by the microorganism into simpler units. Biodegradable material does not harm the environment as they are pollution free.
Biodegradable materials are obtained from natural sources like plants and animals and therefore they can be degraded by microorganisms.
Non-biodegradable material: Non-biodegradable materials are those which cannot be broken into simpler units by microorganism. Non-Biodegradable material causes a lot of harm to the environment by polluting it.
Non- Biodegradable materials are not obtained from the natural sources like plants and animals and therefore they cannot be degraded by microorganisms.
Plastic is one of the non-biodegradable materials which are formed in laboratories by the process of polymerization. As plastic cannot be decomposed by the microorganism, they affect the environment in many ways causing pollution and adverse effects.
Plastic takes several years to decompose, therefore they remain in the soil for many years and cause soil pollution.

Therefore, the correct option is D.

Note:
Plastic or chemically known as Polyethylene is prepared by the polymerization of a single ethylene monomer unit in the presence of a catalyst to break the double bond.