4.2.4 - Molecular Manufacturing

Question 1

what is molecular manufacturing?

Answer 1

chemicals designed to have a specific shape or chemical composition

Question 2

what are the 3 broad methods of molecular manufacturing?

Answer 2

1. the orientation effect:
   - positioning the molecules so desired functional groups line up (protein synthesis)
2. manipulation of structures at atomic/molecular level:
   - adding/substituting atoms in a structure
3. use of protective groups:
   - protecting of large reaction groups/functional groups so desired reaction occurs

Question 3

what are the two approaches to molecular manufacturing?

Answer 3

1. Top-down approach
   - taking larger substances and breaking down into smaller more useful substances
   - requires a lot of energy and creates waste
2. Bottom-up approach
   - building of desired structure from atomic/molecular scale
   - harder process but ‘greener’

Question 4

what are the two ways of protein manufacturing?

Answer 4

1. the orientation effect
   - functional groups oriented correctly to generate successive collisions and to allow intermolecular forces to gain the structure required
2. Use of protective groups
   - to ensure the correct end of the amino acid reacts
   - amine can be converted to an amide and carboxylic acid to an ester

Question 5

how are carbon nanotubes constructed and what are the properties?

Answer 5

• single layer graphite sheet rolled up to form a carbon nanotube
• properties:
  
  • extremely strong
  • highly conductive
  • non-polar

Question 6

what are nanorobots and what are they used for?

Answer 6

• artificial created proteins to perform a specific task
• extremely small DNA sequences that are made to do a specific function but not able to reproduce
• based on the way bacterial cells work - they can move, communicate and process specific functions
• used to:
  
  • deliver drugs
  • identify diseased cells
  • identify viruses

Question 7

what are chemical sensors and what are they used for?

Answer 7

• used to identify chemicals that indicate presence of a disease
  
  • eg. diabetes geenrates the production of ketones
  • eg. a chemical sensor is now available in nanosize that can detect the ketones in a persons breath
  • allows for earlier indentification of disease
    
    • eg. can be used to identify smaller amounts of the chemcial present