Polystyrene

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/polystyrene

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical formula?(C8H8)n (for the polymer chain)
2. What is the glass transition temperature?Approximately 100°C (212°F)
3. What is polystyrene and what is it used for?Polystyrene is a plastic made from the monomer styrene. It is used in toys, lunchboxes, cutlery, and many other everyday items because it is cheap and easy to shape.
4. Why is polystyrene clear and brittle?The polymer chains in polystyrene are arranged in an ordered way, which makes the material see-through and rigid but also fragile.

Polymerization: The chemical process of joining small molecules (monomers) into long chains to form polymers.
Thermoplastic: A type of polymer that softens upon heating and solidifies upon cooling, allowing for repeated reshaping.
Glass Transition Temperature (Tg): The temperature at which an amorphous solid (like polystyrene) transitions from a hard, glassy state to a softer, rubbery state.