In lab, you will experiment with three solutions ‒ DI water, ethanol, and 4M CaCl2 ‒...

In lab, you will experiment with three solutions ‒ DI water, ethanol, and 4M CaCl2 ‒ to develop a method to separate 6 types of plastic. What ideas do you have about possible methods to separate the plastics using these solutions? How could you change the densities of the solutions that are provided? How could you group the types of plastics to work out a separation method? (The intent of this question is for you to generate ideas, and as such, there are no right or wrong answers.)

6 types of plastics: HDPE, LDPE, PET, PP, PS, PVC

Expert Solution

A plastic is a polymer, a chemical compound that is made up of repeating units of molecules called monomers. Generally, carbon will be bonded to hydrogens, In some cases, other elements such as chlorine or fluorine or nitrogen can be bonded to carbon as well. The presence of different elements in the monomers contribute to the different properties of the different types of plastics.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Carbonate beverage bottles-are made from this type of plastic. Meat wrappers, filling for pillows, and cosmetic wrappings are other examples.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE). Plastic bottle is mainly made up of this polymer. This include plastic bottles containing milk, detergents, shampoo, bottled water, juices.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Electrical conduit, plumbing pipes, blister packs, and roof sheeting can be stored in PVC bottles.
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE). This include filmy-type bags such as garbage and bread bags, squeeze bottles, garbage cans, and irrigation tubing.
Polypropylene (PP). This include microwave containers, drinking straws, potato chip bags, yogurt containers, plastic buckets.
Polystyrene (PS). This kind of plastic include salad bar take-out containers, plastic cutlery, clear plastic cups, and plastic sleeves for cookies or crackers.

Density is used to separate out the plastics. Devise a method to determine the approximate density of the plastics along with three solutions DI water, ethanol and 4M CaCl₂. Plastics having a density greater than the solution will sink. Plastics having a density lesser than the solution will float or are being held on the very top of the solution by surface tension. The piece of plastic is pushed below the surface of the solution before making density observations.

Plastic	Alcohol Solution	DI water	4M CaCl₂	Literature value for plastic density grams/cm3
PET	sink	sink	float	1.31
HDPE	sink	float	float	0.96
PVC	sink	sink	sink	1.4
LDPE	sink	float	float	0.88
PP	float	float	float	0.86
PS	sink	sink	float	1.05

queen_honey_blossom answered 2 years ago

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