3 ms·
> The ubiquitous presence of plastics, especially polymer-derived particulates ranging from 500 micrometers in diameter down to 1 nanometer, defined as micro- a
by perching_aix 2y ago
> The ubiquitous presence of plastics, especially polymer-derived particulates ranging from 500 micrometers in diameter down to 1 nanometer, defined as micro- and nanoplastics (MNP)
Aren't plastics by design long chains of molecules? 1 nm is like a handful of atoms at most afaik. How small do plastics get?
- userbinator 2y agoYes, a carbon-carbon bond is around 0.1-0.2nm. At these scales, these "plastics" are closer to monomers than polymers. A 10-carbon chain with its hydrogens attached can hardly be called "polyethylene"; it is a higher alkane and behaves more like wax or mineral oil than what most people would call a plastic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_alkanes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_alkanes I wonder if the PE they are finding is actually https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_jelly https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_jelly
- t-3 2y agoThey can still be long chains - the quote mentions diameter, not length.
- perching_aix 2y agoOhh, that's a good point. I wonder how tightly they pack.