When plastics and packaging materials made from chloroethene are burnt in the open, the mixture of gases released into the atmosphere is most likely to cont...

Answer Details

When plastics and packaging materials made from chloroethene are burnt in the open, the mixture of gases released into the atmosphere is most likely to contain hydrogen chloride. This is because chloroethene (also known as vinyl chloride) is a compound made up of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine atoms. When it is burned, it undergoes a chemical reaction known as combustion, which produces energy and new compounds. One of the main products of this reaction is hydrogen chloride gas, which is formed when the chlorine atoms in the chloroethene combine with hydrogen atoms from the burning process. Therefore, when plastics and packaging materials made from chloroethene are burnt in the open, the resulting gas mixture is likely to contain hydrogen chloride, along with other gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and possibly ethene and ethane. It is important to note that burning plastics in the open is not recommended as it can release harmful pollutants into the environment.