2006-07-17 02:50:00 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Plastics that we see in everday life are polymers which are long chains of a certain monomer. For example, polyethylene is a long chain of ethylene molecules.
To decompose plastics, it takes either a great deal of time to let nature do it, or a great deal of heat, moisture, and pressure. To get the original monomer, you would need an appropriate depolymerizing agent.
2006-07-17 03:54:06 · answer #1 · answered by ebk1974 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it doesnt decompose because of the very stable structure (chem).
in nature, things decompose because of fungi and bacteria, which use enzymes and other natural catalyst such as Pt to break up the things. But there is no catalyst for such a huge molecule, like manmade plastic.
that is one thing why it is bad.
2006-07-17 10:25:29 · answer #2 · answered by cool nerd 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's long chains of ethylene, etc. the reaction is not reversable. if you add heat the plastic will decompose. that's as good as it gets
2006-07-17 11:11:18 · answer #3 · answered by shiara_blade 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋