Carrie Lawless, age 12, of Watertown, N.Y., for her question:

HOW IS LINOLEUM MADE?

Linoleum is a smooth surfaced covering made from linseed oil. The manufacturer mixes purified linseed oil and oxygen in a tank.

This process, called oxidation, changes the oil into a rubbery substance.

Heat and certain gums are added to strengthen the mixture. The w resulting linoleum cement is then stored for several days to give it even greater toughness.

After the cement has reached the desired strength, it is put into a mixer where pigments and such filler materials as ground cork and wood flour are added. Then a machine presses the substance until it is glossy, and applies it to a backing sheet of burlap or felt. The backed linoleum is then dried and hardened in an oven and finally given a coating of lacquer.

The use of linoleum started to decline during the 1950s as floor coverings of various vinyl plastics replaced it in many homes and offices. These synthetic materials resist moisture and chemicals better than linoleum can.

Even newer kinds of flooring perform better than the vinyl types. These new kinds have special surfaces that shine without being waxed.