What are 'plastics' primarily composed of?

Plastics are primarily composed of high molecular weight organic materials, which are typically long chains of carbon atoms and other elements in various configurations. These materials are derived from petrochemical sources or renewable resources. The high molecular weight allows them to exhibit various properties such as flexibility, durability, and resistance to moisture and chemicals, which is why they are widely used in numerous applications, from packaging to construction materials.

In contrast, metallic compounds consist primarily of metal elements, which have entirely different properties and applications compared to plastics. Ceramic substances are inorganic, non-metallic materials that achieve their final shape through processing and typically demonstrate high hardness and brittleness, making them unsuitable as a primary component of plastic materials. Composite materials, while they may include plastics as a part of their structure, combine multiple materials to leverage their unique properties, but do not define what plastics primarily consist of. Hence, the most accurate description of plastics is their composition from high molecular weight organic materials.