Which of the following polymers is used to provide a non-stick coating on cooking utensils such as frying pans?

Introduction / Context:
Modern cooking utensils often have non-stick coatings to prevent food from sticking and to make cleaning easier. These coatings must withstand high temperatures and be chemically inert so that they do not react with food. The most common polymer used for this purpose has a well known trade name and a characteristic chemical structure. This question asks which polymer, among several options, is used as the non-stick coating on cookware.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The utensils mentioned include frying pans and similar cooking vessels.
- The coating must be non-stick, heat resistant and chemically inert.
- Options include Perspex, Styrofoam, polystyrene, Teflon and Bakelite.
- We assume familiarity with general uses of these polymers from school level chemistry.

Concept / Approach:
Teflon is the trade name for polytetrafluoroethylene, often abbreviated PTFE. It is a fluorocarbon polymer with a backbone of carbon atoms fully substituted with fluorine atoms. This structure gives it very low surface energy, making it highly non-stick, and it is resistant to heat and chemicals, making it suitable for coating cookware. Perspex is a transparent plastic used as glass substitute, Styrofoam and polystyrene are used in packaging and insulation, and Bakelite is used for electrical insulators and handles, not as non-stick coatings.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that non-stick frying pans are often advertised as having Teflon coatings. Step 2: Identify Teflon as polytetrafluoroethylene, a fluorocarbon polymer with excellent non-stick and heat resistant properties. Step 3: Evaluate Perspex, which is a clear plastic used for windows, lenses and signboards, not for non-stick surfaces. Step 4: Recognise that Styrofoam and polystyrene are light, insulating plastics used primarily for packaging and disposable products, not high temperature cookware coatings. Step 5: Note that Bakelite is a heat resistant thermosetting plastic used for electrical switches and pan handles, but its surface is not non-stick. Conclude that Teflon is the correct option.

Verification / Alternative check:
Product labels on non-stick cookware frequently mention Teflon or PTFE as the coating material. Science education resources describing plastics and their uses list Teflon as the non-stick coating used in kitchenware, irons and other applications where low friction and chemical inertness are required. In contrast, Perspex is always mentioned as an alternative to glass, polystyrene as a packaging material and Bakelite as a material for handles and electrical fittings. These usage patterns confirm that Teflon is the unique correct answer here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Perspex does not provide non-stick properties and is not suitable for direct contact with high cooking temperatures. Styrofoam and polystyrene would soften or melt at cooking temperatures and are not designed to be food contact surfaces in hot conditions. Bakelite, while heat resistant, is rigid and not non-stick; it is used more for structural parts like handles rather than coatings. Therefore, none of these options match the widely known non-stick coating used on cooking utensils, which is Teflon.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse Bakelite or other heat resistant plastics with non-stick materials simply because they appear on cooking utensils as handles or knobs. Another pitfall is to treat all plastics as interchangeable, ignoring their specific properties and applications. Remembering the brand name Teflon in connection with non-stick cookware and linking it to the chemical name polytetrafluoroethylene helps to avoid such confusion and answer similar questions correctly.

Final Answer:
The polymer used as a non-stick coating on cooking utensils is Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE).