Question

Write a paragraph on green chemistry. Incorporate how microwave technology and the choice of water as a solvent is included in green chemistry.

Answer 1

Answer

Green chemistry is a sustainable and more eco-friendly way of thinking chemistry and how chemical engineering can be done. It creates a new reality for chemistry by asking chemists and engineers to design and synthesize chemicals which are eco-friendy and avoid the creation of toxics and wastes.

Role of microwave technology in Green Chemistry

In many organic synthesis, microwave (which is an electromagnetic wave) is used as source of heat. So, it does not produce any carbon dioxide as nothing is burning here. This technique offers simple, fast, clean, efficient and economic for the synthesis of large number of organic molecules.

Role of water as a solvent in Green Chemistry

Water is a eco-friendly solvent. It has very special properties like "hydrophobic effect". This is the tendency for hydrocarbons or molecules with hydrocarbon to avoid contact with water, and to associate instead with other hydrocarbon species in water. There are many other advantages of using water like in replacing with these unnatural solvents, such as non-toxicity, ease of availability, unrequired recycling step, dissolving materials in a wide range, preventing of waste, low cost and extra safety precautions which are generally taken for flammable, explosive or carcinogen organic solvents.