Green Chemistry

Question 1

Principle 1

Answer 1

Waste Prevention
Prioritise the prevention of waste, rather than cleaning up and treating was after it has been created
Plan ahead to minimise waste at every step

Question 2

Principle 2

Answer 2

Atom Economy
Reduce waste at the molecular level by maximising the number of atoms from all reagents that are incorporated into the final product
Use atom economy to evaluate reaction efficiency

Question 3

Principle 3

Answer 3

Less hazardous chemical synthesis
Design chemical reactions and synthetic routes to be as safe as possible
Consider the hazards of all substances handled during the reaction, including water

Question 4

Principle 4

Answer 4

Designing safer chemicals
Minimise toxicity directly by molecular design
Predict and evaluate aspects such as physical properties, toxicity and environmental fate throughout the design process

Question 5

Principle 5

Answer 5

Safer solvents and auxiliaries
Choose the safest solvent available for any given step
Minimise the total amount of solvents and auxiliary substances used as these make up a large percentage of the total waste created

Question 6

Principle 6

Answer 6

Design for energy efficiency
Choose the least energy-intensive chemical route
Avoid heating and cooling as well as pressurised and vacuum conditions (i.e. ambient temperature and pressure are optimal)

Question 7

Principle 7

Answer 7

Use chemicals which are made from renewable (i.e. plant based) sources, rather than other, equivalent chemicals originating from petrochemical sources

Question 8

Principle 8

Answer 8

Reduce derivatives
Minimise the use of temporary derivatives such as protecting groups
Avoid derivatives to reduce reaction steps, resources required and waste created

Question 9

Principle 9

Answer 9

Catalysis
Use catalytic instead of stoichiometric reagents in reactions
Choose catalysts to help increase selectivity minimise waste and reduce reaction times and energy demands

Question 10

Principle 10

Answer 10

Design for degradation
Design chemicals that degrade and can be discarded easily
Ensure that both chemicals and their degradation products are not toxic, bioaccumulative or environmentally persistent

Question 11

Principle 11

Answer 11

Real time pollution prevention
Monitor chemical reactions in real time as they occur to prevent the formation and release of any potentially hazardous and polluting substances

Question 12

Principle 12

Answer 12

Safer chemistry for accident prevention
Choose and develop chemical procedures that are safer and inherently minimise the risk of accidents
Know the possible risks and assess them beforehand