Final answer:
Plastics are typically polymers made by joining monomers either the same or different through addition or condensation reactions. This process results in materials with a wide range of properties, useful in many aspects of daily life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statements that describe how plastics are produced are:
- c) Some plastics are produced by chemically joining the same molecule to itself.
- d) Some plastics are produced by chemically joining different molecules in an alternating pattern.
In detail, plastics are typically polymers made by polymerization, a process that involves linking monomer units together through chemical bonds to form long chains. This can be achieved either through addition reactions, where monomers with a double bond react to form longer chains, or through condensation reactions, where two monomers react and a small molecule like water is released. Natural polymers also exist, such as DNA and proteins, which are vital to life. The diverse structures of polymers lead to a vast array of properties, allowing plastics to have various uses in everyday life, such as in containers, textiles, and medical devices.