A Level Chemistry Revision “Environmental Effects of Addition Polymers”

You can find all my A Level Chemistry videos fully indexed at https://www.freesciencelessons.co.uk/a-level-revision-videos/a-level-chemistry/

In this video, we look at the environmental effects of addition polymers. First we look at why addition polymers are non-biodegradable and why this presents an environmental problem. We then explore how addition polymers can be disposed of by combustion, recycling and feedstock recycling. We finish by looking at biodegradable and photodegradable polymers.

This video is aimed at the UK A Level Chemistry specifications. Students studying International A Level Chemistry will need to check their specification.

Image Credits:

Blue water bottle
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https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/A_blue_water_bottle.jpg

Yogurt container
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Envase_de_yogur.jpg
Hispalois, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

Foam food containers
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HK_Mongkok_Shanghai_Street_setting-out_area_food_soup_n_rice_white_lunch_PS_foam_box_Nov-2013.JPG
ZChaingkwaimliens, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lemonade in bag
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Paul Keller, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bread
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Sheki Fanzim Mieu Aho, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Plastic on beach
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Muntaka Chasant, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Oil refinery
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Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

Oil tanker
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oil_%26_Chemical_Tanker_Petronia_Pacific_at_BP_Oil_Refinery_Jetty,_Kwinana,_August_2021_02.jpg
Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Landfill
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Dhscommtech at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Incinerator
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Minghong, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Plastic sorting
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Michal Maňas, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Chemical plant
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Ingolfson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Biodegradable polymer
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CSIRO_ScienceImage_3020_Starch_to_Polymer.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/CSIRO_ScienceImage_3020_Starch_to_Polymer.jpg