SCH4U Project: Organic Unit
Overall expectation:
B1: Assess the social and environmental impact of organic compounds used in everyday life
and propose a course of action to reduce the use of compounds that are harmful to human
health and the environment.
Part A: Plastic Reduction Plan and reflection
1. Inventory the plastics that you use or encounter everyday. Summarize your data in a
table.
2. Design a feasible plan that will reduce your plastic use for one week. This plan should
be based on reducing the plastics you have in your inventory.
3. Implement your plan for one week. Keep a daily log (to yourself) to reflect on the
successes and problems you encounter as you implement your plan.
Part B: Classification of plastics.
1) Classify all the plastics in your inventory according to their types.
PolyethyleneTerephthalate
High density Polyethylene
Vinyl
Polystyrene
Low density Polyethylene
Polypropylene
Other
2) Highlight in your table your most 5 used items.
3) Choose one type of plastic that you would like to learn more about and how does it affect
the environment.
Part C: Research
Research your plastic in order to better understand what is it and how is it made. Use
the questions below to guide your research:
a) What is the chemical structure of your plastic and what is the chemical reaction for
its production?
b) What properties of your plastic make it hazardous to the environment?
c) What is the environmental impact of your plastic on the environment through
its manufacture, use and disposal?
d) What is the impact of your plastic on human health?
Present your project in a report: due date no later than Dec 5