Chemistry · Ch 15 — Environmental Chemistry
Introduction
Introduction
Environment is everything around us -- the air we breathe, the water covering most of earth's surface, the plants and animals we share the planet with, and more. When people today talk about "the environment", they usually mean the overall condition of the planet, or how healthy it is. Environmental chemistry is the branch of chemistry that studies the chemicals and chemical processes occurring in the environment as a direct result of human activity, together with the sources, causes and control methods for air, water and soil pollution.
What this unit sets out to do. By the end of it you should be able to:
- understand the core concepts of environmental chemistry, and classify the different types of environmental pollution;
- recognise particulate pollutants and their effects;
- explain the causes and hazardous effects of acid rain, the greenhouse effect, ozone depletion and global warming;
- explain the causes of water pollution, and recognise the prescribed standards for drinking water;
- describe strategies used to control the various types of pollution;
- appreciate what green chemistry means, and understand its importance in everyday life.
Green chemistry and the 2005 Nobel Prize. The 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded jointly to Yves Chauvin, Robert H. Grubbs and Richard R. Schrock for developing new chemical reactions (metathesis) built on green-chemistry principles -- chemistry designed to reduce hazard rather than simply clean up after it. Chauvin explained, in 1971, which metal compounds act as catalysts in these reactions; Schrock, in 1990, was the first to produce efficient metal-compound catalysts for metathesis; and two years later Grubbs developed catalysts that were stable in air and were highlighted in many further applications. This unit ends with green chemistry, tying the whole discussion of pollution back to how chemistry itself can be practised more safely.
Worked out. A side box: the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded jointly to Yves Chauvin, Robert H. Grubbs and Richard R. Schrock for developing the metathesis method in organic synthesis -- new chemical reactions built on green-chemistry principles. Chauvin explained (1971) which metal compounds act as catalysts in these reactions; Schrock (1990) was first to produce efficient metal-compound catalysts for metathesis; two years later Grubbs developed air-stable catalysts that were highlighted in many further applications.
~intro-nobel-box: Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2005 -- Green Chemistry.