Why does plastic stick to your hand?

Answer 1

It's because of Static electricity

Human skin is easily positively charged.

Plastic wrap is an insulator which means it does not allow electrons to flow from one to the other. Plastic wrap is negatively charged and human skin is positively charged and opposite charges attract.

They are forever attracted to each other because human can earth electrons (which means making materials all neutral, equal number of protons and electrons) if the electrons are transffered from a conductor (which allows electrons to move freely from one to the other).

e.g aluminium foil. Aluminium foil is a conductor which allows electrons to move freely from one to the other and electrons are transferred to positively charged hands and human earths it, so human is neutral overall and the aluminium foil is positively charged overall.

e.g) plastic wrap is an insualtor which does not allow electrons to move freely from one to the other. and electrons are attracted to positively charged hands so therefore, they cling. And because it's an insulator, it will never ever let electrons transfer to human hands!

So they will forever repeat :)

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Answer 2

Plastic materials, like polyethylene or polypropylene, have low surface energy which causes them to have a tendency to adhere to surfaces with higher energy, like human skin. The friction between the plastic and skin creates a temporary bond that can make the plastic stick to your hand.