Synthetic fibres and plastics

Very Short Answer Type Question

Question 1: Name the plastic whose sheets are used for packing liquids.

Answer: Polythene

Question 2: Name one naturally occurring polymer.

Answer: Cellulose

Question 3: Name the fibre used for making parachutes and ropes for rock
climbing.

Answer: Nylon

Question 4: Which synthetic fibre is known as artificial silk?

Answer: Rayon fibre is known as artificial silk.

Question 5: Which is the first fully synthetic fibre?

Answer: Nylon is the first fully synthetic fibre.

Question 6: Write one disadvantage of synthetic fibre.

Answer: Synthetic fibres melt on heating.

Question 7: What are esters?

Answer: Esters are the chemicals which give fruits their smell.

Question 8: What are the 4 Rs in waste management?

Or
What are the 4 R’s principles of plastic?

Answer: 4 R principles mean Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover.

Question 9: What are the advantages of nylon?

Answer: Nylon fibre is strong, elastic and light. It is lustrous and easy to wash.

Question 10: Write uses of bakelite.

Answer: It is used for making electrical switches, handles of various utensils, etc.

Question 11: Write uses of melamine.

Answer: It is used for making floor tiles, kitchenware and fabrics which resist fire.

Question 12: How is rayon different from synthetic fibres?

Answer: Rayon is different from synthetic fibres because it is obtained from a

natural source, wood pulp.

Question 13: Give examples which indicate that nylon fibres are very strong.

Answer: Nylon fibres are very strong as it is used to make parachutes and ropes
for rock climbing.

Question 14: What is polythene?

Answer: Polythene (Poly + ethene) is a type of plastic that is used for making
commonly used polythene bags.

Question 15: Is plastic bags non-biodegradable? Why?

Answer: Plastic bag is non-biodegradable because it takes several years to

degenerate.

Question 16: Can we store jams and pickles in plastic containers? Give reason.

Answer: We can store jams and pickles in plastic containers because plastics do
not react with water and air and do not get corroded easily.

Question 17: Do all plastics have the same type of arrangement of units?
Answer: All plastics do not have the same type of arrangement of units. In some,
it is linear, whereas in others it is cross-linked.

Question 18: Why nylon is called fully synthetic fibre?

Answer: Nylon is called fully synthetic fibre because it is prepared from coal,
water and air.

Question 19: What is polyester?

Answer: Polyester (Poly+ ester) is made up of the repeating units of a chemical

called an ester.

Question 20: Write one use of acrylic.

Answer: Acrylic is used as a substitute for natural wool for knitting sweaters,
shawls, blankets etc.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1: Why is nylon used for making parachutes and ropes for rock
climbing?

Answer: Nylon is used for making parachutes and ropes for rock climbing because
nylon fibre is strong and can hold heavyweight.

Question 2: What is a polymer?

Answer: Synthetic fibres and plastics, like natural fibres, are made of very large
units called polymers. Polymers are made up of many smaller units.

Question 3: Define petrochemicals.

Answer: All the synthetic fibres are prepared by several processes using raw
materials of petroleum origin, called petrochemicals.

Question 4: Why should we use a cotton carry bag or jute bag while going
shopping?
Answer: We should use cotton or jute bags while going shopping to minimise the
use of plastic bags.

Question 5: Why plastic articles are available in all shapes and sizes?

Answer: Plastic articles are available in all possible shapes and sizes because
plastic is easily mouldable i.e. can be shaped in any form.

Question 6: Why is Teflon used for nonstick coating on cookware?

Or
Which material is used for coating non-stick kitchen wares and why?

Answer: Teflon is used for nonstick coating on cookware because it is a special

plastic on which oil and water do not stick.

Question 7: Explain why plastic containers are favoured for storing food.

Answer: Plastic containers are favoured for storing food because of their
lightweight, lower price, good strength and easy handling.

Question 8: What is PET? Write its uses.

Answer: PET is a very familiar form of polyester. It is used for making bottles,
utensils, films, wires and many other useful products.

Question 9: Give the composition of Polycot and Polywood.

Answer: Polycot is a mixture of polyester and cotton.

Polywood is a mixture of polyester and wool.

Question 10: “Tin, aluminium and other metal can are considered non-
biodegradable.” Give reason.

Answer: Tin, aluminium and other metal can are considered non-biodegradable
because they approximately take 100 to 500 years to degenerate.

Question 11: Give two uses of rayon.

Answer:

 It is mixed with cotton to make bed sheets.

 It is mixed with wool to make carpets.
Question 12: Suggest some ways in which we can contribute towards reducing
the use of plastic materials?

Answer: Ways to reduce the use of plastic materials are

 Avoid the use of plastics as far as possible.

 Make use of bags made of cotton or jute when you go shopping.
Question 13: Give examples to show that plastics are noncorrosive.
Or
Why are the chemicals in the laboratory stored in plastic containers?
Or
Why are plastic containers used to store chemicals in labs?

Answer: Plastics do not react with water and air. They are not corroded easily.
That is why they are used to store various kinds of material, including many
chemicals.

Question 14: What type of cookware is used in microwave ovens and why?

Answer: Special plastic cookware is used in microwave ovens for cooking food. In
microwave ovens, the heat cooks the food but does not affect the plastic vessel.

Question 15: How is the plastic used in the healthcare industry?

Answer: Plastics find extensive use in the healthcare industry. Some examples of
their use are the packaging of tablets, threads used for stitching wounds, syringes,
doctors’ gloves and several medical instruments.

Question 16: Why is melamine used for making floor tiles, kitchenware and
fabrics which resist fire?

Answer: Melamine is a versatile material. It resists fire and can tolerate heat
better than other plastics. It is used for making floor tiles, kitchenware and fabrics
which resist fire.
Question 17: Why do electrical wires have a plastic covering, and handles of
screwdrivers are made of plastic?

Ans. Plastics are poor conductors of heat and electricity. That is why electrical
wires have plastic covering, and the handles of screwdrivers are made of plastic.

Question 18: Why should recycled plastic not be used for the storage of food?
Or
Why is recycled plastic not suitable for the storage of food items?
Or
Can recycled plastics be used in food containers? Why or why not?

Answer: Most of the thermoplastics can be recycled. However, during recycling

certain colouring agents are added. This limits its usage, especially for the storage
of food.

Question 19: Why does plastic find such a variety of uses?

Answer: The fact is that plastic is easily mouldable i.e. can be shaped in any form.
Plastic can be recycled, reused, coloured, melted, rolled into sheets or made into
wires. That is why it finds such a variety of uses.

Question 20: Should the handle and bristles of a toothbrush be made of the same
material? Explain your answer.

Answer: The handle and bristle of a toothbrush should not be made of the same
material as the handle of the toothbrush should be hard and strong while the
bristle should be soft and flexible.

Question 21: List the characteristics of synthetic fibres which make them popular
dress materials.
Or
What are the characteristics of synthetic Fibres?
Or
Mention the general characteristics of synthetic plastics.

Answer: Synthetic fibres possess unique characteristics which make them popular
dress materials. They dry up quickly, are durable, less expensive, readily available
and easy to maintain.
Question 22: Rana wants to buy shirts for summer. Should he buy cotton shirts or
shirts made from synthetic material? Advise Rana, give your reason.

Answer: Rana should buy cotton shirts for summer because cotton absorbs sweat
away from the body and helps eliminate moisture buildup between clothes and
skin to keep the body dry.

Question 23: How is rayon made? Write two advantages of using rayon.
Or
What are the advantages of artificial silk over natural silk?

Answer: Rayon is obtained by chemical treatment of wood pulp.

Advantages of Rayon are:

 It is cheaper than silk and can be woven like silk fibres.

 It can also be dyed in a wide variety of colours.
Question 24: Explain why the following are made of thermosetting plastics.

(a) Saucepan handles

(b) Electric plugs/switches/plug boards

Answer: (a) Saucepan handles are made of thermosetting plastics because it is a

poor conductor of heat.

(b) Electric plugs/switches/plug boards are made of thermosetting plastics

because it is a poor conductor of heat and electricity.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1: Explain why some fibres are called synthetic.

Answer: Some fibres are called synthetic because they are made by human beings
through chemical processing. Such fibre is made up of small units that join
together to form long chains. Each small unit is a chemical substance.

Question 2: Give three advantages of polythene over natural materials.

Answer: Three advantages of polythene over natural materials are:

  It is light, strong and durable.
 It can be rolled into sheets.
 It does not react with water and air.
Question 4: ‘Manufacturing synthetic fibres are helping conservation of forests’.
Comment

Answer: Natural fibres are obtained from plants and animals, which means
cutting off lots of trees. This leads to deforestation. But synthetic fibres are
obtained by chemical processing of petrochemicals and hence help in the
conservation of forests.

Question 5: What properties of plastics make them so useful?

Answer: Characteristic properties of plastics are as follows

 Plastic is non-reactive
 Plastic is light, strong and durable
 Plastics are poor conductors
Question 6: Why is a plastic bucket preferred over an iron bucket?

Answer: Plastic bucket preferred over an iron bucket because

 Plastic is non-reactive
 Plastic is light, strong and durable
 Plastics are poor conductors
Question 7: What are some uses of nylon?

Answer: Uses of Nylon

 Nylon is used to make articles such as socks, ropes, tents, toothbrushes,

car seat belts, sleeping bags, curtains etc.
 It is also used for making parachutes and ropes for rock climbing.
Question 8: Why is acrylic fibre more popular than wool?

Answer: Acrylic fibre is more popular than wool because

 Clothes made from acrylic are relatively cheaper.

 They are available in a variety of colours.
 Synthetic fibres are more durable.
Question 9: Name two polyester fabrics and write their uses.
Answer: Terylene is a popular polyester. It can be drawn into very fine fibres that
can be woven like any other yarn.

PET is a very familiar form of polyester. It is used for making bottles, utensils,
films, wires and many other useful products.

Question 10: Why should we not wear synthetic clothes while working in the
kitchen or a laboratory?

Answer: Synthetic fibres melt on heating. If the clothes catch fire, it can be
disastrous. The fabric melts and sticks to the body of the person wearing it. We
should, therefore, not wear synthetic clothes while working in the kitchen or a
laboratory.

Question 11: Differentiate between natural and synthetic fibres.

Answer: Difference between natural and synthetic fibres

Natural Fibres Synthetic Fibres

Natural fibres are obtained from plants Synthetic fibres are made by human beings by chemical
and animals. processing of petrochemicals.

Example: cotton, wool, silk, etc. Example: rayon, nylon, polyester and acrylic
Question 12: “Even though plastics are very useful, they are not environment
friendly.” Justify the statement.

Answer: Since plastic takes several years to decompose, it is not environmentally

friendly. It causes environmental pollution. Besides, the burning process in the
synthetic material is quite slow and it does not get completely burnt easily. In the
process, it releases lots of poisonous fumes into the atmosphere causing air
pollution.

Question 13: ‘Avoid plastics as far as possible. Comment on this advice.

Answer: Since plastic takes several years to decompose, it is not environmentally

friendly. It causes environmental pollution. Besides, the burning process in the
synthetic material is quite slow and it does not get completely burnt easily. In the
process, it releases lots of poisonous fumes into the atmosphere causing air
pollution. Thus, we should avoid plastic as far as possible.
Question 14: Suggest some ways to solve plastic pollution.
Or
How can pollution due to plastics be solved?

Answer: Ways to solve plastic pollution

 Avoid the use of plastics as far as possible.

 Make use of bags made of cotton or jute when you go shopping.
 The biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes should be collected
separately and disposed of separately.
 Recycle plastic waste.
Question 15: Explain the difference between thermoplastic and thermosetting
plastics.

Answer:

Thermoplastic plastics Thermosetting plastics

1. There some plastic which gets deformed easily 1. There are some plastics which when moulded
on heating and can be bent easily are known as once, cannot be softened by heating. These are calle
thermoplastics plastics. thermosetting plastics.

2. Example: polythene and PVC 2. Example: bakelite and melamine.

Question 16: Why we should not throw polybags in the water bodies or on the
road?

Answer: We should not throw polybags in the water bodies or on the road
because:

 Cow while eating garbage waste food items swallow the polythene bags
and wrappers of food. The plastic material chokes the respiratory system
of these animals, or forms a lining in their stomachs and can be the
cause of their death.
 The polybags thrown here and there are responsible for clogging the
drains, too.

Question 17: Categorise the materials of the following products into ‘can be
recycled and ‘cannot be recycled’: Telephone instruments, plastic toys, cooker
handles, carry bags, ballpoint pens, plastic bowls, plastic covering on electrical
wires, plastic chairs, electrical switches.
Answer:

can be recycled cannot be recycled

telephone instruments plastic toys

cooker handles carry bags

electrical switches ballpoint pens

plastic bowls

plastic covering on electrical wires

plastic chairs
Question 18: Describe an activity to show that thermoplastic is a poor conductor
of electricity.

Answer: To show that thermoplastic is a poor conductor of electricity, we will

design a circuit. For that, we need a bulb, some wires, a battery, a piece of metal
and a plastic pipe. After switching on the current, the bulb glows in the former
case. In the latter case, the bulb does not glow. Hence a plastic pipe (which is a
thermoplastic) is shown to be a poor conductor of electricity.

Question 19: Differentiate between biodegradable and non-biodegradable

materials.

Answer: Difference between biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials

Biodegradable materials Non-biodegradable materials

A material which gets decomposed through natural

A material which is not easily decomposed by
processes, such as action by bacteria, is called
natural processes is termed non-biodegradable
biodegradable.

Example: Peels of vegetables and fruits, leftover

Example: Tin, aluminium, other metal cans,
foodstuff, Paper, Cotton cloth, Wood, Woollen clothes
Plastic bags etc.
etc.