Thermocol (expanded polystyrene) is widely used to cushion fragile glass items during transport. What…
Thermocol (expanded polystyrene) is widely used to cushion fragile glass items during transport. What structural property makes thermocol ideal for shock absorption, and why is its disposal an environmental hazard?
It is heavy and dissolves rapidly in rainwater, acidic soil, and river streams.
It contains over $90\%$ trapped air making it lightweight and shock-resistant, but takes centuries to decompose naturally.
It is made from natural wood pulp that releases chlorine gas when buried underground.
It melts at room temperature and contaminates nearby drinking water reservoirs.
Solution
Thermocol has microscopic air pockets that cushion fragile items from impacts, but being a synthetic polymer, it resists biological decomposition and accumulates as non-biodegradable waste.