Why do playing cards develop a bad smell when left alone for a long period of time?
You are not far off. Playing cards are laminated with plastic to make it water resistant and longer lasting. Just like laminated magazine paper or temporary ID cards.
The Short Answer
You are not far off. Playing cards are laminated with plastic to make it water resistant and longer lasting. Just like laminated magazine paper or temporary ID cards. When kept in that mason jar for a long time, presumably in an attic or a storage closet. (both of them are in contact with the outer walls and can get quite warm in the summers) the heat is trapped in the mason jar. Kinda like a car in the sun. This caused the plastic to react, presumably melt, and give off the smell you said of. Hope this helps
Analysis
Key Concepts: Cards, laminated, plastic
This explanation focuses on cards, laminated, plastic and spans 98 words across 8 sentences. At 42% above the average Human Body explanation (69 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “You are not far off.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 8 connected points.
How This Compares in Human Body
Ranked #116 of 500 Human Body questions by answer depth (top 24%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why playing cards develop a bad smell when left alone for a long period of time?
You are not far off. Playing cards are laminated with plastic to make it water resistant and longer lasting. Just like laminated magazine paper or temporary ID cards. When kept in that mason jar for a long time, presumably in an attic or a storage…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Human Body questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 98 words, ranked #116 of 500 Human Body questions by depth. The key concepts covered are cards, laminated, plastic.
What approach does this answer take to explain playing cards develop a bad smell when left alone for a long?
The explanation uses root cause analysis across 98 words. It is categorized under Human Body and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.