Green Chemistry

Green Chemistry, which is also known as sustainable chemistry, encourages the design of products and processes that minimize the use and generation of hazardous substances. The concept is to reduce pollution, as well as attempt to reverse the damages already done by non-environmentally unsafe materials in use over the years. Green chemistry must accomplish three things: 1. Be more environmentally benign than the alternatives. 2. Be more economically viable than the alternatives, and 3. Functionally outperform the alternatives. The study of green chemistry is governed by 12 principles which are designed to provide an ethical and moral compass with which green chemists should work. These principles emphasize the use of renewable resources and the use of less hazardous products and waste byproducts. It also emphasizes on the increase of safety and sustainability in the laboratory and world wide. These 12 Principles are ; Prevention of waste
, high Atom economy , use of less hazardous chemical syntheses , Designing Safer Chemicals , using Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries , Design for Energy Efficiency , Use of Renewable Feedstock , Reduce Derivatives , Use of catalysts , Design for Degradation , Real-time analysis for Pollution Prevention, Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention

Examples ; 1. Degradable polymers or plastics: are used in almost everything. Chemists have given us an alternative which is PLA (Poly lactic acid) a naturally occurring polymer which is made by the fermentation of corn. 2. Computer Chips: are made by using excessive amounts of water, energy and chemicals. Scientists have developed a process that uses supercritical carbon dioxide in one of the steps in chip preparation that reduces the need of raw materials.

In the future, when green chemistry is practiced by all chemists and all chemical related companies, the term "green chemistry" will ideally disappear as all chemistry becomes green.

Ozone Layer
The Ozone layer is in a layer of the atmosphere called stratosphere which contains most of the atmospheres ozone molecules. It is continuously formed {When UV light hits oxygen gas, it breaks it down to two oxygen atoms. Then, when an oxygen atom meets oxygen gas, it forms ozone gas} and destroyed {UV damages the ozone layer from the outside} by UV radiation. The following factors attack the Ozone layer causing Ozone depletion: CFCs [chlorofluorocarbons]: when this organic compound is released in the stratosphere, it breaks down into chlorine free radicals due to UV radiation. Since Ozone is a highly unstable molecule it donates its extra oxygen molecule to the free radical chlorine. Chlorine is a catalyst which is what makes it capable of breaking down over 100,000 ozone molecules. Cl + O3 ClO + O2 ClO + O3-> ClO + O2 In sum O3 + O O2 + O2 Nitrogen Oxides: Nitrogen oxide is a free radical that comes from Nitrogen oxides, which are produced by car and aircraft engines and thunderstorms. Nitrogen oxide free radicals act as catalysts and hence are capable of breaking many ozone molecules. Large volcanic eruptions: can have an indirect effect on the ozone level. Natural sources: contributes 16% of chlorine in the stratosphere. Other chemicals: Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4) , Halon , Heel , methyl bromide , hydrobromofluorocarbons, and methyl chloroform.

Made by : ~ The Golden Girl ~