Assignment 4

1. Catalyst of the Week

My catalysts of the week are chlorine free radicals because they impact the environment by breaking down ozone. They are formed by the action of ultraviolet radiation on chloroflurocarbons. Free radicals are atoms, molecules or ions with unpaired, highly reactive electrons. They play a role in many different types of chemistry, including atmospheric chemistry. I chose chlorine free radicals because of my concern about ozone depletion.


2. Green Chemistry As a Social Movement

I can scarcely think of anything more important. Of course scientists and engineers are at the forefront of new ways of doing chemistry, but we all need to do our part is individuals. It is through lobbying, activism and education that we will be able to protect our natural resources and ecosystems. We need to find new ways of managing our resources in a sustainable manner, and it's going to take a concerted global effort to do this. This is Green Chemistry in a broader context. For example, as individuals we can all reduce waste and pollution. This reduces the chemical reactions which lead to the destruction of our planet. The more we do, and the more we talk about what we're doing to reduce waste, the more awareness we bring to the issue. I'm hopeful that this movement will continue to develop and it will eventually become a more substantial global effort.

3.. Atom Economy

This link is interesting. It basically reiterates what we were discussing last night. I think it is really important to look at the amount of waste that is generated during a manufacturing process. It is exciting to think about further development in this area.

For myself, this class is making me hyperconscious of how much waste I personally generate. I am much more aware of what I'm consuming and am trying to find new ways of reducing waste. For example, this week, I tried to prepare all of my food with natural ingredients that did not come with packaging. With only a couple of exceptions, I managed to accomplish this. It focused mostly on fruits and vegetables. I used some chicken broth in a box, and some rye crisp in a box, a some meat from the butcher (very little), which came in paper, but that was all for four days. Everything else was fresh and came without packaging.