sustainable science: green chemistry in your classroom
TRANSCRIPT
Sustainable Science:Sustainable Science:Green Chemistry in your ClassroomGreen Chemistry in your Classroom
WMRC
Green Chemistry:Green Chemistry:Preventing PollutionSustaining the Earth
No human activity is No human activity is completely risk-freecompletely risk-free
Use common sense, Use common sense,
Use chemical sense, andUse chemical sense, and
Follow the rules of lab safety.Follow the rules of lab safety.
Risk = f(hazard,exposure)
Do we consider our level of exposure and the hazard itself?
Does the dose makes the poison?
Safety first… and lastSafety first… and last
Use nontoxic/nonhazardousUse nontoxic/nonhazardousstarting materialsstarting materials
Use common senseUse common sense
Principles of Green ChemistryPrinciples of Green Chemistry•Waste Prevention
•Atom Economy
•Safer Solvents
•Energy Efficiency
•Renewable Feedstocks
•Design for Degradation
Wastes? Why make them?Wastes? Why make them?•Design experiments to Design experiments to reduce or eliminate waste.reduce or eliminate waste.
•Incorporate materials used in a Incorporate materials used in a process into the final product.process into the final product.
Law of Conservation of Matter
Matter cannot be created or destroyed.
A candle burns and appears to be destroyed, but..turns into less observable gas (a byproduct).
Atom economy in the real Atom economy in the real world: Ibuprofenworld: Ibuprofen
Ibuprofin synthesis
Prior to 1990s each step produced waste and had 40% atom economy
Now atom economy is around 77%
(ideal is 100%) with much less waste.
Talking Trash – What Color Talking Trash – What Color is your Waste? Green!is your Waste? Green!
•Do you know where your Do you know where your product is?product is?
•Bioremediation (microbial-based Bioremediation (microbial-based cleaning system)cleaning system)
Strategies for reducing wasteStrategies for reducing waste
• Reduce
• Reuse
• Recycle
• Rebuy
• Rethink
Use safer solvents for Use safer solvents for chemical processeschemical processes
•Return safe substances to the environmentReturn safe substances to the environment•Design for biodegradabilityDesign for biodegradability•Eliminate the use of toxic solvents to Eliminate the use of toxic solvents to dissolve reactingdissolve reacting materialsmaterials
Clock ReactionClock Reaction•Sudden, sharp change whenSudden, sharp change when reaction is complete.reaction is complete.
•““Greener” way to demonstrateGreener” way to demonstrate reaction rate.reaction rate.
Soaps, Crystals, and DirtSoaps, Crystals, and Dirt
•Using safer solventsUsing safer solvents
•Investigating solubility &Investigating solubility & surfactantssurfactants
Using Renewable Resources
A sticky solution: Making glue A sticky solution: Making glue from milk!from milk!
Use Less EnergyUse Less Energy
•Use lower amounts of energy for Use lower amounts of energy for chemical processeschemical processes•Use catalysts (like enzymes) or Use catalysts (like enzymes) or microwave to speed up reactionsmicrowave to speed up reactions
Green Chemistry means...Green Chemistry means...
Preventing pollution beforePreventing pollution beforeit happens rather thanit happens rather than
cleaning up the mess later.cleaning up the mess later.
Green Chemistry Curriculum
•supplemental course materials,supplemental course materials,
•activities and informationactivities and information
•references and resource materialsreferences and resource materials
Green Chemistry lessons at www.greeningschools.org
Green Your Lesson Plan
Select “Green Chemistry” under Chemistry category
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