The student can conclude that polyethylene is a synthetic polymer, meaning it is manufactured through chemical processes rather than being sourced directly from natural materials. Specifically, polyethylene is typically produced by the polymerization of ethylene, a hydrocarbon derived from petrochemical sources, such as natural gas or crude oil. This indicates that polyethylene is created through human engineering and industrial production methods rather than occurring spontaneously in the environment.
Polyethylene is a common type of plastic. A student researches polyethylene and discovers that it is not found in nature. What can the student conclude about how polyethylene is made?
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