What is a plastic?
Chemists call plastics "polymers". They are essentially very long organic molecules that are made from repeating units (or building blocks). Each repeating unit is called a "monomer"... mono meaning one and poly meaning many, so use mono(mer)s to make a poly(mer). Depending on the chemical structure of the monomer and the resulting polymer, you can achieve a wide variety of properties (things that bounce, stretch, etc.)
These polymers are most-commonly made with strong carbon-carbon bonds holding the chains together. Because these bonds are difficult to break, the resulting plastics often have a very long lifetime and can withstand a wide variety of conditions. This has transformed transportation (lightening vehicle interiors for better energy efficiency), food (providing better and cheaper preservation options for less food waste) and medical (providing cheaper materials, such as syringes and personal protective equipment or PPE) applications.
However, many of the applications plastics are used for are disposable and not intended for a long lifetime, so the strength and resilience of plastics is both an attribute and flaw of the materials!
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However, many of the applications plastics are used for are disposable and not intended for a long lifetime, so the strength and resilience of plastics is both an attribute and flaw of the materials!
More information: