Synthetic Materials, Natural Resources Quick Check
What must happen for a natural resource to become a synthetic material? (1 point)
• It needs to go through a chemical reaction.
• It needs to be dried out.
• It needs to be pounded very thin.
• It needs to go through a phase change.
• It needs to go through a chemical reaction.
The correct answer is:
• It needs to go through a chemical reaction.
To determine what must happen for a natural resource to become a synthetic material, we can analyze the given options and choose the correct one.
1. It needs to go through a chemical reaction.
A chemical reaction involves the rearrangement of atoms to form new compounds. This process can indeed be involved in the creation of synthetic materials from natural resources. For example, the synthesis of polymers from petrochemicals or the production of synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester involve chemical reactions.
2. It needs to be dried out.
Drying out a natural resource generally refers to the removal of moisture or water content. While drying may be a step in some processes, it alone does not transform a natural resource into a synthetic material. It is not a fundamental requirement for the synthesis of synthetic materials.
3. It needs to be pounded very thin.
Pounding a natural resource to make it thin does not necessarily lead to the creation of a synthetic material. It might change the physical properties of the natural resource, but it does not involve any chemical changes or conversion into a new material.
4. It needs to go through a phase change.
A phase change refers to the transition of matter from one state to another, such as from solid to liquid or from liquid to gas. While phase changes can be involved in certain processes, they do not necessarily result in the creation of synthetic materials.
Based on the given options, the correct answer is:
• It needs to go through a chemical reaction.