What is the chemical name for plastic?

Answer 1

It is a polymer and there are many types so a formula can not be accurately stated without more information

Answer 2

There is not single formula for plastic as there are different types of plastic.

Polyvinyl Chloride (CH2CHCl)n and polyethylene (CH2)n are just two examples.

the subscripted "n" means that the formula shown is a repeating unit.

Answer 3

There is no set formula for plastic. If you know the technical name of the particular plastic you're interested in, you could ask about that and we could probably help you.

For instance, poly(vinyl chloride) or PVC is made from the monomer 1-chloroethene (also called vinyl chloride):

CH2=CHCl

In the process of polymerization the double bond opens and binds to other molecules to create the polymer poly(vinyl chloride) which looks like:

-[-CH2-CHCl-]-

the -[- and -]- symbolize that the polymer repeats at those points.

Answer 4

There are different formulas for different types of Plastic. There are polymers.

The most common one is Polyethene or also called Polyethylene, its formula is (C2H4)n

Answer 5

There are a large number of plastics and polymers so it is extremely difficult to list them all. Many are based on ethylene CH2=CH2 and the resulting polymer would be polyethylene -----[CH2-CH2] N ------- where N is a large number. If one of or more H are replaced you would get the following:

H replaced by CH3 = polypropylene

H replaced by Cl = polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

H replaced by COOH = polyacrylic acid (from this is derived all the acrylics)

4H replaced by F = PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene

H replaced by CN = polyacrylonitrile (PAN) which if pyrolysed gives carbon fiber

H replaced by -C6H5 = polystyrene (styrofoam cups etc)

1 H replaced by CH3 and one H replaced trans by ---COOCH3 gives Polymethylmethacrylate (trade name Perspex)

There are many more.

Answer 6

Plastic can have a lot of different Elements.

Answer 7

Polyethene is a polymer of ethene it may be represented as (-CH2-CH2-)n , where 'n' is a very large no.

Answer 8

Polyethylene