Part A

Synthetic polymers, such as polyvinylchloride

(PVC) are long strands of molecules made up
of repeating units called monomers. For
example, the monomer of PVC is identical to
the hydrocarbon ethene, except that one of its
hydrogen atoms is replaced with a chlorine
atom (see diagram). This strand of individual
monomers is connected to each other, and the
double bonds between them are broken to
make up the continuous chain of PVC. When
PVC is heated, the primary covalent bonds
within the polymer are not broken, only the
dispersion forces between each strand of PVC are broken, which slide apart.
When it cools, these dispersion forces are reformed, and it reverts to its previous
state. This makes PVC a thermoplastic polymer, because when it is heated, it can
be moulded into different shapes and so is very useful for many different
applications. This is different to thermosetting plastics, which can only be heated
and moulded once before setting.

Part B
Plastics have many different advantages for use in everyday life. Plastics have
lower melting points than other materials such as metals, because the bonding
between molecules in plastics is only dispersion forces and dipole-dipole
secondary forces between chlorine atoms, while the metals are an ionic lattice,
which requires more energy to break. This means that plastics can be reshaped
and reformed a lot easier than metals, meaning it is cheaper to manufacture and
produce plastics. Plastics are also quite light and not very dense compared to
many metals, and so less energy and money is needed in transportation. Plastics
also do not degrade, decompose or rust as easily other materials such as natural
materials and metals. This durability is both a reason for and against the use of
plastics, since while it means that plastics are very strong, they can last for
hundreds or thousands of years before breaking down. This can damage the
environment.

Part C
Outline of
information
contained in the
article
Possibility of bias

Article 1: plasticsindustry.org
Contains numerous dot points
regarding the safety and
usefulness of PVC.

There are probably many points

left out about the negative
effects of PVC. As this site
promotes plastics and their use,

Article 2: greenpeace.org
Mentions the negative effects
of PVC on the environment and
animals, and what some
governments and companies
are doing about it.
This article leaves out the
positive effects of PVC, and is
purposely vague about what
type of dioxin is produced by

it is probably biased, and

information is likely to have
been left out.

Use of language

Mostly short and statistical facts

and scientific language is used.
The language makes PVC seem
safe, and calls PVC versatile
and non-toxic.

Presentation

The article is presented with

factual information. Some
statistics and history is
presented in the beginning
sentences, and then contains a
list of dot points about the
positives of PVC. A list of where
to find further information is
also included.

the production of PVC.

Greenpeace opposes the use
of plastics and promotes the
use of greener and natural
products, so the article is likely
biased.
Uses emotive language, and
shock words such as dioxin,
cancer, and burning. The
article gives the impression of
PVC filling landfills and
releasing compounds into the
air.
The article is constructed in
paragraphs briefly mentioning
key points that explain how
PVC is harmful to the
environment. The article ends
on a lighter note, with news on
governments and some
companies phasing out PVC
products.

Part E:
Plasticisers.org. 2013. Phthalates, Plasticisers and Flexible PVC Information
Centre - Home. [online] Available at: http://www.plasticisers.org/ [Accessed: 20
Sep 2013].
Pvc.org. 2013. How is PVC used? - PVC. [online] Available at:
http://www.pvc.org/en/p/how-is-pvc-used [Accessed: 24 Sep 2013].