Materials, Trash and Recycling
The structure of the substance is what gives it its properties. I learned that the long polymer chains that make up plastic cause the plastic to be flexible but hard to break. In addition, these bonds are hard to break without subjecting to high temperature or another reactant. These long chains are difficult to recycle because they have to be softened to break down the substance, either by normal melting or by more difficult and complete pyrolysis. This means that plastics are not recycled at a very high rate.
The choices we make as consumers can have a huge impact on the local environment. By specifically selecting materials that are easy to recycle en masse, we make it far easier for recycling plants. For example, avoiding products such as styrofoam that are not recycled reduces are impact, since a recyclable alternate will have less environmental impact. When deciding what to do with a used product, we can also make an impact. In some cases, re-using the product is more efficient than recycling or throwing it out. In my family, we use empty juice jugs as water bottles for hikes and car rides. This is even better for the environment, because no energy is spent recycling the plastic since we use it in its same form again. These small choices can have a large impact on our local environment.
During this project I learned a ton about the material chemistry of objects. I learned how the types of bonds can impact the properties of a substance. I used to think that any metal element would be a shiny, hard, acid reactive substance. I would later learn that it is the metallic bond that creates these properties, not the element used. I acquired the skills required to work in a chemistry lab, including safety procedures and data recording strategies, as well as how to write a lab following specific guidelines. However, I think the biggest skill I added to was giving up on an idea. I tend to figure out an idea, and stick with it no matter what. Learning that the pyrolysis reactor idea was unsafe and impractical, and shifting from trying to build one to creating a process-flow diagram was a major learning experience for me.
The choices we make as consumers can have a huge impact on the local environment. By specifically selecting materials that are easy to recycle en masse, we make it far easier for recycling plants. For example, avoiding products such as styrofoam that are not recycled reduces are impact, since a recyclable alternate will have less environmental impact. When deciding what to do with a used product, we can also make an impact. In some cases, re-using the product is more efficient than recycling or throwing it out. In my family, we use empty juice jugs as water bottles for hikes and car rides. This is even better for the environment, because no energy is spent recycling the plastic since we use it in its same form again. These small choices can have a large impact on our local environment.
During this project I learned a ton about the material chemistry of objects. I learned how the types of bonds can impact the properties of a substance. I used to think that any metal element would be a shiny, hard, acid reactive substance. I would later learn that it is the metallic bond that creates these properties, not the element used. I acquired the skills required to work in a chemistry lab, including safety procedures and data recording strategies, as well as how to write a lab following specific guidelines. However, I think the biggest skill I added to was giving up on an idea. I tend to figure out an idea, and stick with it no matter what. Learning that the pyrolysis reactor idea was unsafe and impractical, and shifting from trying to build one to creating a process-flow diagram was a major learning experience for me.
