the plastic

[Max.Em]

In the skill Science it's not allowed to answer "das Plastik" for the picture with the plastic bottles, but you have to say "der Kunststoff". While in science, people often use the formal term "Kunststoff", in general "Plastik" is much more common. Especially if you see bags full of old plastic bottles.

[stoopher]

Hmm, so "das Plastik" is an exception to the rule that nouns ending in -ik are feminine. Possibly because it's a recent loanword?

[quis_lib_duo]

Because there already exists a word die Plastik (= the sculpture).

[stoopher]

According to the Duden, die Plastik comes from French, while das Plastik comes from English. That suggests to me that das Plastik is the more recent loan, especially since sculpture obviously predates modern plastic materials.

[npLam]

Thanks for that. I shall use it in future.

[n4GAouwj]

DAS Plastik

[FranzStrae]

DAS Plastik means the material.

[n4GAouwj]

Der Kunstsoff

[n4GAouwj]

The material