Question

(a) Describe an activity to show that while paper is biodegradable but plastic (say, polythene) is non-biodegradable.
(b) Explain why, some materials are biodegradable but some are non-biodegradable.

Answer 1

Answer:

It is a well known phenomenon that organic waste materials are biodegradable but plastic waste materials are non biodegradable.

To prove this phenomenon ,we can do the activity mentioned below.

Activity procedure:

In a grassland where the soil is soft and easy for digging,we have to make two medium sized holes.

Then in the first hole ,we have put the organic waste materials and in the second hole we have to put the plastic waste materials.

After that,we have to close the mouths of those holes with the help of soil.

Then we have to wait for 2-3 months.

Observations:

The organic waste materials will be dissolved in the soil but the plastic waste materials are still intact.

This activity proves that the organic waste materials are biodegradable and plastic waste materials are non-biodegradable.

B The main reason of a substance being biodegradable is being organic that can be used up by scavengers of environment. On the other hand some substances are non biodegradable because they are synthetic and cannot be decomposed by the microorganism.

Answer 2

Answer:

biodegradable materials that materials are decomposed over a period of time by the action of air water and mechanism satisfactory