Explain the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry

Question 1

1. Waste prevention

Answer 1

Better to prevent waste than to treat it after it is formed. A+B -> P + W (E-factor)

Question 2

2. Atom Economy

Answer 2

Ideally all atoms from reagents are incorporated into a final product. High atom economy = less waste production

Question 3

3. Less Hazardous Chemical Synthesis

Answer 3

Whenever practicable, synthetic methodologies should be designed to use and generate substances that posses little or no toxicity

Question 4

4. Designing Safer Chemicals

Answer 4

To preserve efficacy of the function while reducing toxicity

Question 5

5. Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries

Answer 5

The use of auxiliary substances should be made unnecessary whenever possible and when used innocuous (oskadlig)

Question 6

6. Design for Energy Efficiency

Answer 6

Energy requirements should be recognized for their environmental and economic impacts –> minimized. Synthetic methods should be conducted at ambient temperature and pressure

Question 7

7. Use of Renweable Feedstocks

Answer 7

Current fossil based feed stock (e.g ethylene) for chemical synthesis has high embedded energy and thus favorable energy efficiency

Question 8

8. Reduce Derivatives

Answer 8

Unnecessary derivatization (blocking group, protection/deprotection, temporary modification of physical/chemical processes) should be avoided when possible. Substrate -> product instead of many intermediates

Question 9

9. Catalysis

Answer 9

Catalytic reagents (as selective as possible) are superior to stoichiometric reagents. Not all catalysis are green chemistry

Question 10

10. Design for Degradation

Answer 10

Chemical products should be designed so at the end of their function they don’t persist in the environment and break down into innocuous degradation products

Question 11

Real-time Analysis for Pollution Prevention

Answer 11

Analytical methodologies to be further developed to allow for real-time in-process monitoring and control prior to the formation of hazardous substances (Knowing when product is “done” can save lots of waste, time and energy)

Question 12

Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention

Answer 12

Substance and the form of a substance used in a chemical process should be chosen so as to minimize the potential for chemical accidents, including releases, explosions and fires