Plastic is a compound of nonmetallic elements, so its [___] properties make it a popular coating for electric wires to prevent the current from escaping.

Plastic does not allow electric current to pass through it easily, so it acts as an electrical insulator. Coating wires with plastic helps keep the current inside the wire and protects people from electric shocks. The correct choice is electrically insulating.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.