Question

packing peanuts are commonly used as shipping material. some are manufactured from polystyrene and others are manufactured from cornstarch. a manufacturer wants to ship their products in an environmentally friendly manner. one key criterion for being environmentally friendly is water solubility, which ensures the material does not contribute to landfill waste. cornstarch packing peanuts are water-soluble and biodegradable, making them a better choice for environmentally conscious shipping. polystyrene peanuts, on the other hand, are not water-soluble and can persist in landfills, causing environmental harm.polystyrenecornstarchnote: in a skeletal structure, carbon atoms (c) are assumed to be located at the corners and endpoints of lines.carbon atomcarbon atom carbon atom6. choose which packing material would be the best option for shipping in an environmentally friendly manner. provide evidence to support your choice, relating molecular structure to water solubility.□ polystyrene□ cornstarchevidence: ____________

Explanation:

Water is a polar molecule, and polar molecules interact favorably with other polar groups via hydrogen bonding. Cornstarch's molecular structure contains multiple polar hydroxyl (-OH) groups that can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, making it water-soluble and biodegradable. Polystyrene's structure is nonpolar (composed of hydrocarbon chains and benzene rings) and cannot form favorable interactions with water, so it is water-insoluble and persists in landfills.

Answer:

☑ Cornstarch
Evidence: Cornstarch has polar -OH groups in its molecular structure that form hydrogen bonds with water, making it water-soluble and biodegradable, so it does not contribute to landfill waste. Polystyrene has a nonpolar hydrocarbon-based structure that cannot interact with water, so it is insoluble and persists in landfills, causing environmental harm.