According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, "a kind of expanded polystyrene." What the heck is polystyrene?That's an excellent question. Chemistry wise, it's (C8H8)n, a polymer of styrene. Derived form petroleum, styrene itself is toxic; however, it is frequently used in polymer form, which is used in many types of rubber and plastic. Free-radical initiators are usually used to create these polymers. Could you write that in english, please?Absolutely! You should recognize the chemical symbols C and H as the symbols for carbon and hydrogen respectively, assuming you somewhat payed attention in your high school chemistry class. A polymer is simply multiple monomers, or single molecules, stuck together. Free-radical indicators are molecules that have fallen apart such that the electrons are not in pairs, which isn't normal as electrons like to stick together. Since these electrons are desperate for a partner, they will go along with pretty much any other electron that comes along. The double carbon bonds in styrene make it easy for an unpaired electron to bond with a carbon electron. This action creates a new bond that leaves one carbon electron lonely, causing the process to repeat itself over and over again in what is known to chemists as a chain reaction (sound familiar?). This reaction is essentially what creates polystyrene, the basis for most of life as we know it. the basis of life?Yep. As mentioned earlier, polystyrene is used in many types of rubber and plastic. This includes, but is not limited to, plastic cups, air plane models, interior car parts (such as the radio knob), hairdryers, computers, and children's toys. So, yeah, basically everything we do involves polystyrene. But how does a material that makes all this hard, plastic stuff turn into styrofoam?Well, going back to the definition, styrofoam isn't just straight polystyrene; it's expanded rather than solid. How exactly does one expand plastic?I'm getting there! So, the polystyrene chains are made into little balls, as anyone who has let a small child/cat pick at packaging foam would know. (Seriously, those things get everywhere!) After the beads are solidified, they are packed into a mold for whatever product is being made. Steam is then injected into the mold, both expanding the beads and fusing them together. Finally, it is cut into the desired shape, smoothing out rough edges. Wait, if styrofoam is just PLASTIC with steam pumped into it, why is it not recyclable?It is. Next time you drink out of a styrofoam cup, check the bottom. It probably has a recycling sign on it. In fact, in my AP Environmental Science class, we dissolved styrofoam using nail polish remover (which basically just removes the air from in between the balls). Those leftovers could pretty easily be reused to make more styrofoam and whatever else can be made form polystyrene. why is it so bad for the ENVIRONMENT then?It takes forever to decompose (over a million years), and humans aren't that good at recycling it, as evidenced by the fact you probably didn't know it was recyclable until just recently. Additionally, a lot of the things styrofoam is used for (i.e. takeout boxes, hot chocolate cups, picnic plates) make it hard to recycle because of food residue. Furthermore, most styrofoam products aren't reused as much as cardboard or plastic products. This creates more waste in general, as reusing is more efficient than recycling, and therefore better for the earth. Another problem is that most local governments just don't recycle styrofoam for one reason or another. So, What is STYROFOAM?Styrofoam is a polymer of a molecule derived from petroleum (styrene) that has been solidified into annoyingly tiny balls, molded, injected with steam, and then shaped that should be recycled but isn't because of how we use it, resulting in it sitting in land fills for hundreds upon hundreds of years. Curious? Here's some more reading!
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