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Question:
What is plastic made out of and how is it made?


Replies:
The things that go into plastics are various products from oil refineries (hydrocarbons) and some other elements, most often chlorine (which is made from salt). Plastics are generally made through a polymerization process, where small molecules are made through a series of reactions, and then those small molecules are combined (through heat or pressure) so that they all join up forming a stable solid material. There are lots of different varieties though, which makes recycling plastics rather difficult!

Arthur Smith


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