Synthetic Materials and Societal Impacts

Synthetic Materials and Societal Impacts

Middle School

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Learning Objectives

• Describe how synthetic materials are made from natural resources through chemical reactions.

• Explain factors that limit the production and use of synthetic materials.

• Describe the impacts of synthetic materials on people and society.

• Analyze the environmental impacts of synthetic materials from creation to disposal.

• Evaluate how science and engineering create materials for specific functions.

Key Vocabulary

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Natural Resources

These are materials that are found in nature and can be used by people to make money.

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Synthetic Material

A synthetic material is created by people through a process involving chemical reactions to form something new.

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Chemical Process

This is a method or way that changes one set of chemical substances into another set.

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Reactant

A reactant is a substance that is present at the start of and undergoes a chemical reaction.

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Product

A product is a new substance that is formed as a result of a chemical reaction taking place.

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By-product

A by-product is an extra, secondary substance made during the creation of a main product.

Key Vocabulary

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Properties

Properties are the special characteristics or qualities that are used to describe and identify a substance.

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Structure and Function

Structure and function describe how the specific arrangement of a material's parts helps it perform a job.

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Non-renewable Resource

A non-renewable resource is a natural material that we use but cannot be quickly or easily replaced.

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Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the wide variety of different plants, animals, and other living things in an ecosystem.

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From Natural Resource to Synthetic Material

Natural Resources

• All synthetic materials originate from natural resources found in the environment.

• These resources have their own unique physical and chemical properties in their natural state.

• For example, crude oil is a liquid natural resource that is extracted from the earth.

Synthetic Materials

• They are created when natural resources are changed through chemical processes.

• The new materials have different properties from the original natural resources.

• These new properties determine their function, such as plastic being used for bottles.

Multiple Choice

How are synthetic materials created?

• By changing natural resources through chemical processes.

• By mining them directly from the earth in their final form.

• By mixing two synthetic materials together.

• By allowing natural resources to decompose over time.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary result of the chemical processes that turn natural resources into synthetic materials?

• The synthetic material has different properties than the original natural resource.

• The synthetic material has the exact same properties as the natural resource.

• The natural resource becomes more valuable in its original state.

• The chemical process makes the material heavier.

Multiple Choice

Given that crude oil is a liquid and plastic is a solid, what is the best explanation for why crude oil is chemically changed to make plastic for bottles?

• The process creates a new material with properties useful for a specific function.

• The original natural resource is not useful in its natural state.

• The synthetic material is always stronger than the natural resource.

• The main goal is to make the material look different from the natural resource.

What Limits the Production of Synthetic Materials?

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Natural Resources

• ​Natural resources are not spread evenly across the planet.

• ​​For instance, China has large deposits of iron ore for steel.

• ​Countries without certain resources have to import them from others.

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Climate Conditions

• ​The climate of a region affects its available natural resources.

• ​​Russia's colder climate is ideal for growing large timber forests.

• ​This makes wood a key resource for materials in the region.

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Economic Factors

• ​A region's economy influences the synthetic materials it can produce.

• ​​Strong economies make materials for entertainment and improving life quality.

• ​This is because most of their basic needs are already met.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following are key factors that limit the production of synthetic materials in a region?

• Natural resources, climate conditions, and economic factors.

• The number of factories, skilled workers, and transportation.

• The type of government, language, and population size.

• The amount of sunlight, rainfall, and wind energy.

Multiple Choice

How does a region's climate influence its ability to produce materials?

• It determines which raw materials are available in that region.

• It only affects the cost of importing materials from other countries.

• It changes the economic strength of the region.

• It only matters for producing materials for entertainment.

Multiple Choice

What conclusion can be drawn about the relationship between a country's economy and the types of materials it produces?

• A country with a strong economy will likely produce materials that improve life quality.

• A country that has to import resources cannot have a strong economy.

• A country with few natural resources will only produce basic materials.

• A country's economy is not related to the types of materials it produces.

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Impacts on Individuals and Society

Individual Impact

• Synthetic materials are often designed to meet the personal desires of an individual.

• Cell phones were developed to satisfy the want for instant, long-distance communication.

• This directly impacts a person's daily life by changing how they connect.

Societal Impact

• Materials can also have a much broader effect on an entire society.

• Ethanol, a renewable fuel from corn, helps reduce dependency on foreign oil.

• Because it burns cleaner than gasoline, it helps to reduce smog and acid rain.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary difference between the individual and societal impacts of new materials?

• Individual impacts affect one person's life, while societal impacts affect a whole community.

• Individual impacts are about communication, while societal impacts are about fuel.

• Individual impacts are always positive, while societal impacts can be negative.

• Individual impacts come from synthetic materials, while societal impacts come from natural materials.

Multiple Choice

What is the relationship between using ethanol as a fuel and its effect on the environment?

• Using a cleaner burning fuel like ethanol helps lower the amount of air pollution.

• Using a renewable fuel like ethanol increases dependency on foreign oil.

• Developing new fuels like ethanol changes how people communicate long-distance.

• Creating fuels from corn makes them less effective than gasoline.

Multiple Choice

A new type of packaging is invented that keeps food fresh for much longer, satisfying a personal desire for convenience. However, the material cannot be recycled and releases harmful chemicals as it breaks down. What conclusion can be drawn about this material\'s overall impact?

• It has a positive individual impact but a negative societal impact.

• It has a negative individual impact but a positive societal impact.

• Its impact is entirely positive because it helps individuals.

• Its impact is entirely negative because of the pollution.

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Environmental Impact: Extraction and Production

Resource Extraction

• Obtaining natural resources like palm oil and corn can significantly damage the environment.

• For example, rainforests are cleared for palm oil plantations, which destroys animal habitats.

• Draining wetlands to grow corn reduces the area's biodiversity and can harm the ecosystem.

Production & By-Products

• The chemical process of making a material often creates secondary products called by-products.

• When ethanol is made from glucose, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is produced as a by-product.

• If a by-product is considered waste, its disposal can have negative environmental impacts.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary environmental concern associated with resource extraction and production?

• It can damage ecosystems and harm animal habitats.

• It always creates valuable materials for human use.

• It helps to increase the number of different species.

• It only affects the resources being gathered.

Multiple Choice

How can activities like clearing rainforests for palm oil or draining wetlands for corn affect the environment?

• They create by-products like carbon dioxide.

• They can destroy natural habitats and reduce an area's biodiversity.

• They help to clean the air and water in the environment.

• They only use resources that are easy to obtain.

Multiple Choice

A factory's chemical process creates a by-product that is considered waste. Based on the principles of environmental impact, what is the most likely outcome if this waste is not disposed of carefully?

• The by-product will help increase the area's biodiversity.

• The disposal of the waste by-product is likely to harm the local ecosystem.

• The production process will have no impact on the environment.

• The by-product is guaranteed to be a useful material.

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Environmental Impact of Material Disposal

Landfills & Incinerators

• Many synthetic items, like cell phones, are thrown away and end up in landfills or incinerators.

• This contributes to waste and pollution, and valuable natural resources within the items are also thrown away.

• For example, valuable resources like gold found in cell phones are lost when not recycled properly.

Ocean Pollution

• A large amount of plastic waste unfortunately makes its way into the world's oceans every year.

• This plastic does not disappear but breaks down into extremely small pieces that are called microplastics.

• Ocean currents mix these microplastics throughout the water, making them impossible to fully clean up.

Multiple Choice

What is the main environmental problem caused by throwing away synthetic items like cell phones and plastics?

• It results in pollution and the loss of useful natural resources.

• It helps to create more space in landfills.

• It prevents plastics from breaking down into microplastics.

• It makes it easier to clean up the world's oceans.

Multiple Choice

What happens to plastic waste that makes its way into the ocean over time?

• It breaks down into tiny microplastics that get mixed throughout the water.

• It dissolves completely and vanishes within a few days.

• It is contained in one area by ocean currents for easy cleanup.

• It provides a valuable resource for marine animals.

Multiple Choice

If a large number of cell phones are thrown away instead of being recycled, what is the most likely combined outcome for the environment?

• Valuable materials are lost, and pollution from waste increases.

• The amount of gold in landfills increases, making it easier to mine.

• Ocean currents will eventually wash all the microplastics ashore.

• The materials will safely biodegrade in both landfills and the ocean.

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Science and Engineering for a Better World

• Some synthetic materials are engineered to help solve environmental problems.

• Science and engineering work together to create these helpful solutions.

• Polymer-coated fertilizer releases nutrients slowly due to its unique structure.

• This reduces harmful runoff, protecting both groundwater and wildlife.

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Multiple Choice

What is a primary goal when science and engineering work together?

• To create helpful solutions for environmental problems

• To make all materials synthetic

• To only study how groundwater and wildlife interact

• To make fertilizers less effective

Multiple Choice

How does the structure of polymer-coated fertilizer benefit the environment?

• It releases nutrients slowly, which reduces harmful runoff.

• It adds a protective layer of plastic to the topsoil.

• It makes plants absorb water more efficiently.

• It attracts wildlife to help fertilize the fields.

Multiple Choice

If a standard, uncoated fertilizer that releases nutrients all at once is used, what is the most likely environmental outcome?

• An increase in harmful runoff into groundwater and nearby wildlife habitats.

• The nutrients would be more effectively absorbed by the plants.

• The polymer coating would protect the soil from erosion.

• The need for watering the crops would be significantly reduced.

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Common Misconceptions

Misconception	Correction
Synthetic materials are created from nothing.	They come from natural resources through chemical processes.
Ocean garbage patches are solid islands of trash.	They are mostly tiny, invisible microplastics spread in the water.
All synthetic materials are bad for the environment.	Some are designed to be helpful and reduce pollution.

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Summary

• Synthetic materials are made from natural resources using chemical processes to create new properties.

• A material’s structure determines its function, helping to meet societal needs and desires.

• Extracting resources and disposing of materials can harm habitats and create long-term waste.

• Science and engineering help create materials to solve environmental problems.

Poll

On a scale of 1-4, how confident are you about the concepts covered in today's review?

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• 2

• 3

• 4