Question

Give scientific reasons for the following:
(a) Plastic containers used for microwave cooking can be made of thermosetting plastic.
(b) Thermoplastics are not used for making saucepan handles.
(c) Bakelite is used to make plugs and sockets.

Answer 1

(a) Thermosetting plastics remain hard on reheating and can sustain high temperatures. As the containers used for microwave cooking should be able to sustain reheating without causing any damage to the food kept in them, these containers can be made of thermosetting plastics.

(b) Thermoplastics become soft on heating. As saucepans are used for cooking, their handles should be able to sustain large amount of heat without melting. Therefore, thermoplastics are not used for making saucepan handles.

(c) Thermosetting plastics remain hard even at high temperatures. They are also insulators of heat and electricity. As plugs and sockets may get heated up while they are being used, Bakelite, a thermosetting plastic, is used for making them.