Question

How does water's unique property as a solvent affect the environment when humans dispose of plastic bottles?

A) It enhances the decomposition process of plastic bottles
B) It prevents plastic bottles from breaking down
C) It helps break down plastic bottles into harmful components
D) It has no effect on plastic bottles

Answer 1

Water's property as a solvent does not enhance the decomposition of plastic bottles; instead, they are not readily biodegradable and can harm the environment by breaking down into microplastics over centuries. Correct option is B.

Step-by-step explanation:

Water's unique property as a solvent does not contribute to the decomposition of plastic bottles, therefore the correct answer to the question is B) It prevents plastic bottles from breaking down. Plastics, especially those commonly used in bottles, are not readily biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to decompose, especially under the anaerobic conditions of landfills. When plastics break down, they can form harmful components due to photodecomposition, resulting in tiny fragments that often end up in our oceans, contributing to pollution and harm to marine life.

Plastic bottles in the environment lead to an increased presence of microplastics in our waters, which is a pressing environmental concern. Considering that it takes 450 years for one plastic bottle to decompose in a landfill, the immense volume of plastic waste we generate heavily burdens our ecosystems and water quality.