A pharmaceutical company is developing a new method to produce a pain relief medication. The original method used a stoichiometric amount of a toxic heavy metal catalyst, produced significant hazardous waste, and required high energy input for heating. The new method uses an enzyme as a catalyst at room temperature, with water as a solvent, and converts nearly all starting materials into the desired product.
Which of the following green chemistry principles is BEST exemplified by the change in the production method?
Maximising atom economy only.
Using catalysis, designing for energy efficiency, and reducing hazardous chemical syntheses.
Using renewable feedstocks only.
Designing safer chemicals and maximising atom economy only.
Marking your answer...
This may take a few seconds
Sign up for free to see your full marking breakdown and personalised study recommendations.
Create Free Account Log inThis is a free VCE Units 3 & 4 Chemistry practice question worth 1 mark, testing your understanding of Sustainable production. It falls under How are organic compounds categorised and synthesised? in Unit 4: How are carbon-based compounds designed for purpose?. Submit your answer above to receive instant AI-powered marking and personalised feedback.
Carbon is the basis not only of the structure of living tissues but is also found in fuels, foods, medicines, polymers and many other materials that we use in everyday life. In this unit students investigate the structures and reactions of carbon-based organic compounds, including considering how green chemistry principles are applied in the production of synthetic organic compounds. They study the metabolism of food and the action of medicines in the body. They explore how laboratory analysis and various instrumentation techniques can be applied to analyse organic compounds in order to identify them and to ensure product purity. Students conduct practical investigations related to the synthesis and analysis of organic compounds, involving reaction pathways, organic synthesis, identification of functional groups, direct redox titrations, solvent extraction and distillations. Throughout the unit students use chemistry terminology including symbols, formulas, chemical nomenclature and equations to represent and explain observations and data from their own investigations and to evaluate the chemistry-based claims of others. A student-designed scientific investigation involving the generation of primary data related to the production of energy and/or chemicals and/or the analysis or synthesis of organic compounds is undertaken in either Unit 3 or Unit 4, or across both Units 3 and 4, and is assessed in Unit 4 Outcome 3. The design, analysis and findings of the investigation are presented in a scientific poster format. School-based assessment The student’s level of achievement in Unit 4 will be determined by School-assessed Coursework, which contributes 30 per cent to the study score. Students complete a set of tasks to address Outcomes 1 and 2, and design and conduct a student investigation for Outcome 3. External assessment The level of achievement for Units 3 and 4 is also assessed by an end-of-year examination contributing 50 per cent to the study score.
In this area of study students focus on the structure, naming, properties and reactions of organic compounds, including the chemical reactions associated with the metabolism of food. They explore how synthetic organic compounds can be produced more sustainably for use in society. Outcome 1 On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse the general structures and reactions of the major organic families of compounds, design reaction pathways for organic synthesis, and evaluate the sustainability of the manufacture of organic compounds used in society. Key knowledge
the sustainability of the production of chemicals, with reference to green chemistry principles
All free, all instant AI marking.
A specialty chemical company, 'Lumos Solutions', currently produces a key pharmaceutical intermediate, Compound X, using a traditional synth…
A chemical manufacturer is considering shifting from a traditional synthesis of butanoic acid (C4H8O2) from petroleum-derived precursors to…
State three principles of green chemistry that are relevant to the sustainable production of chemicals.
Which of the following actions best exemplifies the application of green chemistry principles in the production of a common laboratory chemi…
Which of the following actions exemplifies the principle of 'atom economy' in green chemistry?
A pharmaceutical company is developing a new synthesis pathway for a common anti-inflammatory drug. The original pathway involved a multi-st…
StudyPulse has thousands of VCE Chemistry questions with full AI feedback, mark breakdowns, progress tracking, and study notes across every Key Knowledge point including Sustainable production.
