Class Activity 1

Question 1

What is Green Chemistry ?

Answer 1

The desgin of chemical products that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances.

Question 2

Allyl Alcohol CH2=CHCH2OH, can be produced by following two different routes, as indicated below
1)In the 1st route, the feed stock was allyl chloride, CH2=CHCH2Cl, and however
2)In the 2nd route, propylene, CH2=CHCH3 was used as feedstock.
By carefully examining the two routes, discuss the two allyl alcohol production routes from a green chemistry point of view.

Route 1(Traditional route):
CH2=CHCH2Cl + H2O --> CH2=CHCH2OH + HCl

Route 2:

step1: CH2=CHCH3 + CH3COOH + O.5O2 –> CH2CHCH2OCOCH3 + H2O
step2: CH2CHCH2OCOCH3 + H2O –> CH2=CHCH2OH + CH3COOH

Answer 2

Route 1(Traditional route):
*hydrolysis of allyl chloride which generates the product(allyl alcohol) and hydrochloric acid as by product

Route 2(Greener route):

• Avoids production of HCl by use of propylene, acetic acid and oxygen
• Added benefit:The acetic acid produced in the 2nd reaction can be recovered and then used again in the 1st reaction, leaving no by-product.