Science Common Sense

902 - What is plastic made from, and how is it produced?

Plastic is made from a type of liquid called 'petroleum' or 'oil'. This oil is found deep beneath the Earth's surface.

Here's how plastic is produced:

1. Drilling for oil: First, machines drill into the Earth to get the oil.
2. Separating the ingredients: The oil is sent to a big factory where it's separated into different parts, like a puzzle.
3. Heating and mixing: Some of these parts are heated and mixed with other chemicals to create a special liquid called a 'polymer'.
4. Cooling and shaping: The polymer is then cooled and shaped into different forms, like small pellets or long strings.
5. Molding and making: These pellets or strings are melted and molded into different shapes, like bottles, bags, or toys.
6. Final product: And that's how plastic is made.

Note that there are also other types of plastic, like bioplastics, which are made from natural materials like plants and cornstarch.