Green chemistry facts for kids
Green chemistry (also called sustainable chemistry) is a special way of doing chemical research and engineering. It focuses on designing products and processes that use as few dangerous substances as possible. This helps protect both people and the environment.
Green chemistry is different from Environmental chemistry. Environmental chemistry studies chemicals already in nature, including pollutants. Green chemistry, however, aims to stop pollution before it even starts. In 1990, the United States passed the Pollution Prevention Act. This law encouraged new ways to prevent pollution, rather than just cleaning it up later.
This field uses ideas from many parts of chemistry. These include organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, and even physical chemistry. While it might seem like green chemistry is only for big factories, its ideas can be used in any chemical process. Green chemists work to make chemical choices safer and more efficient.
Contents
- What are the 12 principles of green chemistry?
- 1. Prevent waste
- 2. Design safer chemicals and products
- 3. Design less hazardous chemical syntheses
- 4. Use renewable raw materials
- 5. Use catalysts, not stoichiometric reagents
- 6. Avoid chemical derivatives
- 7. Maximize atom economy
- 8. Use safer solvents and reaction conditions
- 9. Increase energy efficiency
- 10. Design for degradation
- 11. Analyse in real time to prevent pollution
- 12. Minimize the potential for accidents
- Images for kids
- See also
What are the 12 principles of green chemistry?
Green chemistry follows 12 key ideas to make chemical processes safer and better for the planet.
1. Prevent waste
It's best to create products with little or no waste. This means there's less to clean up or get rid of later.
2. Design safer chemicals and products
Chemists try to design chemicals that are not harmful or toxic. They still make sure these chemicals work well for their purpose.
3. Design less hazardous chemical syntheses
When making new products, the process itself should not be harmful. This means avoiding toxic steps for people or the environment.
4. Use renewable raw materials
It's better to use materials that can be grown again, like plants. This is instead of using resources that will run out, like Fossil fuels.
5. Use catalysts, not stoichiometric reagents
Catalysts are special helpers in reactions. They can be reused many times and are often less harmful than other chemicals called reagents.
6. Avoid chemical derivatives
Sometimes, making a chemical requires extra steps that create waste. Green chemistry tries to find ways to avoid these steps and the waste they produce.
7. Maximize atom economy
This principle means using as many atoms from the starting materials as possible. The goal is for most atoms to end up in the useful final product, not as waste.
8. Use safer solvents and reaction conditions
Chemists try to avoid using harsh or dangerous liquids (solvents). If a solvent is needed, they choose the safest option available.
9. Increase energy efficiency
It's best to do chemical reactions at normal room temperature and pressure. This saves a lot of energy that would otherwise be used for heating or cooling.
10. Design for degradation
Products should be designed to break down easily after use. They should turn into harmless substances, often with the help of bacteria.
11. Analyse in real time to prevent pollution
During a chemical reaction, it's important to watch for unwanted by-products. Monitoring in real time helps stop pollution before it happens.
12. Minimize the potential for accidents
Chemicals and processes should be designed to be very safe. This helps prevent spills, fires, or explosions.
Images for kids
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Lactide is an example of a chemical that can be made using green chemistry principles.
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Trans and cis fatty acids are examples of different chemical structures.
See also
In Spanish: Química sostenible para niños
