![Quiz: Plastic 101 Banner](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/quiz-plastics-101-banner-4x3-1-650x488.jpg)
From bottles to bags, computers to clothing. Everest to mariana trench, Plastic is everywhere in the world today. I'm sure you all use plastic every day, but how much do you know about this „material that can be used a thousand times“?As part of this year earth daycalls for a 60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040. Test your neuroplasticity with the quiz below.
Plastics are made up of very large molecules called:
- polymer
- Glycolipid
- clay
- nanotube
![A simple illustration of building blocks joining together to form a large block.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/monomer-polymer-illustration-lg-650x431.jpg)
![A simple illustration of building blocks joining together to form a large block.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/monomer-polymer-illustration-lg-650x431.jpg)
Polymers, derived from the Greek word meaning „many parts,“ are large molecules made up of many repeating subunits, known as monomers, chemically linked together. Polymers are characterized by high molecular weight and can exhibit a wide range of physical and chemical properties.
Synthetic polymers, or plastics, are obtained from:
- natural rubber
- silica
- oil
- animal fat
Natural polymers such as silk, wool, DNA, cellulose, and proteins occur in nature and are often water-based; synthetic polymer It is man-made and extracted from petroleum. Common synthetic polymers include nylon, polyethylene, polyester, and Teflon.
The first fully synthetic plastic (meaning it contains no molecules found in nature) was called:
- adamantium
- bakelite
- boronium
- expanded styrene
![vintage black pictures "plastic" Telephone with rotary dial.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bakelite_Telephone-650x503.jpg)
![vintage black pictures "plastic" Telephone with rotary dial.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bakelite_Telephone-650x503.jpg)
Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, in 1907. Baekeland was looking for an alternative to shellac, a natural electrical insulator, to meet the needs of a rapidly electrifying United States. Bakelite was a huge commercial success and was used in electrical insulators, radio and telephone casings, and a wide range of consumer products.
According to current estimates, how much plastic waste is produced around the world each year?
- 100 million tons
- 200 million tons
- 300 million tons
- 400 million tons
by United Nations Environment Programapproximately 400 million tons (441 US short tons) of plastic waste is generated annually, which is equivalent in weight to approximately 1,208 Empire State Buildings.
Approximately how much of all the plastic ever produced is recycled?
- 9 percent
- 21 percent
- 50 percent
- 86 percent
Which stages in the life cycle of single-use plastics do not contribute to climate change?
- manufacturing industry
- Discard
- recycling
- none of the above
![Photo of refinery facility under blue sky.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sinclair_Refinery_Sinclair_Wyoming-650x334.jpg)
![Photo of refinery facility under blue sky.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sinclair_Refinery_Sinclair_Wyoming-650x334.jpg)
From fossil fuel extraction to landfilling, plastics emit greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change at every stage of their lifecycle. Although recycling plastic still has environmental impacts, it generally results in a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to producing virgin plastic.
Plastic materials manufactured from renewable biological materials rather than petroleum are called:
- tumorous substance
- bio plastic
- environmental plastics
- hydro plastic
![Photo of knife, fork and spoon. All white bioplastic.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Cutlery_made_from_Cellulose_Acetate_Biograde-crop-650x386.jpg)
![Photo of knife, fork and spoon. All white bioplastic.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Cutlery_made_from_Cellulose_Acetate_Biograde-crop-650x386.jpg)
Bioplastics are manufactured from biological materials such as vegetable oils, cornstarch, straw, wood pulp, and recycled food waste. Bioplastics may also be biodegradable. This means that it can be degraded by the action of living organisms, usually microorganisms. Bioplastics have many advantages, but they are not a silver bullet When it comes to the world's plastic pollution problem.
Which of the following is true about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch:
- It's an island of solid garbage.
- It can be seen from space
- Mostly made of floating plastic bottles
- It is a vast ocean area that stretches between California and Japan.
![Simplified map of the Pacific Ocean.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pacific-garbage-patch-map_2010_noaamdp-650x414.jpg)
![Simplified map of the Pacific Ocean.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pacific-garbage-patch-map_2010_noaamdp-650x414.jpg)
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the world's largest collection of ocean plastic. The entire Great Pacific Garbage Patch is surrounded by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a large system of swirling ocean currents that covers an area of approximately 7.7 million square miles. This patch is almost entirely composed of microplastics (tiny pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters in size) and poses a significant threat to marine life.
A research study earlier this year found that water in plastic bottles contains many small plastic particles less than 1 micrometer in size. These tiny plastic particles are called:
- micro plastic
- mm plastic
- nano plastic
- zeta plastic
![Images of small particles in and around cells.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Microplastics_that_have_penetrated_inside_cells-650x487.png)
![Images of small particles in and around cells.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Microplastics_that_have_penetrated_inside_cells-650x487.png)
Nanoplastics are small plastic particles less than 1 micrometer in size. (Also small, microplastics are defined as debris smaller than 5 millimeters.) the study One liter of bottled water was found to contain an average of around 240,000 detectable pieces of plastic. This was 10 to 100 times higher than previous estimates based primarily on large particle size. Nanoplastics are so small that they can easily enter the human body, but scientists are just beginning to study their potential effects on human health.
Scientists have recently made progress in developing enzymes that can break down PET plastic, which is commonly used in plastic bottles and textiles in commercial and environmental settings. Which microorganisms do these enzymes originate from?
- bacteria
- algae
- fungi
- protozoa
![Photo of tabletop laboratory equipment.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Carbios-reacteur-saint-beauzire-650x466.webp)
![Photo of tabletop laboratory equipment.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Carbios-reacteur-saint-beauzire-650x466.webp)
french company Calbios already uses a process called “enzymatic recycling” to recycle PET plastic according to circular economy principles. However, before 'plastic-eating' bacteria can be put into practical use, challenges related to efficiency, safety, technical and economic feasibility need to be overcome.