Polystyrene is used to make disposable drinking cups. The cups are produced by vacuum forming from a sheet of expanded polystyrene. (a) Give two properties ...
Question 1 Report
Polystyrene is used to make disposable drinking cups. The cups are produced by vacuum forming from a sheet of expanded polystyrene.
(a) Give two properties of expanded polystyrene that make it suitable for a hot drinks cup. [2]
(b) Give one environmental concern associated with polystyrene products. [1]
Answer Details
(a) Two properties of expanded polystyrene that make it suitable for a hot drinks cup:
- Excellent thermal insulator - expanded polystyrene contains many trapped air pockets within its foam structure, which prevent heat from transferring quickly from the hot drink to the outside surface. This keeps the drink hot for longer and makes the cup comfortable to hold without burning the user's hand. [1]
- Lightweight - expanded polystyrene is extremely light (approximately 95% air by volume), making the cup easy to carry even when full of liquid. [1]
Other valid properties include being rigid enough to hold liquid without collapsing and being low cost to produce in large quantities.
(b) One environmental concern associated with polystyrene products:
Polystyrene is not biodegradable and persists in the environment for hundreds of years if sent to landfill. [1] Expanded polystyrene is particularly problematic because it is mostly air and therefore very bulky relative to its weight, taking up disproportionate landfill space. It also breaks down into small fragments that can pollute waterways and be ingested by wildlife.
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