What is plastic made of?

Plastics are made from natural materials such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt and crude oil through a polymerisation or polycondensation process. Plastics are derived from natural, organic materials such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt and, of course, crude oil.

What is the chemical formula of plastic?

PVC is Polyvinyl Chloride. This is a plastic that has the following chemical formula: CH2=CHCl (see picture on the right).

What is plastic chemically?

Plastic is any synthetic or semisynthetic organic polymer. In other words, while other elements might be present, plastics always include carbon and hydrogen. While plastics may be made from just about any organic polymer, most industrial plastic is made from petrochemicals.

Who made first plastic?

Leo Baekeland
A key breakthrough came in 1907, when Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland created Bakelite, the first real synthetic, mass-produced plastic.

Is PVC A plastic?

Over the past few decades, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastic, commonly known as “vinyl,” has become one of the most widely-used types of plastics. PVC contaminates humans and the environment throughout its lifecycle during its production, use and disposal.

What is plastic example?

The composition, structure, and properties of plastics

Properties and applications of commercially important plastics
Thermoplastics
Carbon-chain
high-density polyethylene (HDPE) 20–30 milk bottles, wire and cable insulation, toys
low-density polyethylene (LDPE) 8–30 packaging film, grocery bags, agricultural mulch

What are the two types of plastic?

There are two main types of plastics: thermoplastics and thermosets.

Is plastic good or bad?

Plastic is incredibly useful material. In fact, humans have been making forms of plastic for thousands of years. The first ‘plastic’, Bakelite, was developed in 1907, and the plastics have become ubiquitous ever since. But plastic’s strength as a material is also pretty bad for the environment.