Health, Safety and the Environment

Key Terms

Green Chemistry

The Atmosphere

Acid Rain

The Ozone Layer

The Carbon Cycle

Global Warming

Ocean Acidification

MSDS

Risk Assessment

Principles of Green Chemistry

1. Prevent waste.

2. Minimise hazardous chemicals produced.

3. Design safer chemicals.

4. Be energy efficient.

5. Use renewable reactants.

6. Use catalysts.

7. Design degradable products.

8. Monitor and control release of hazardous materials.

9. Prevent accidents.

The Atmosphere

The Atmosphere

Most of the atmosphere is nitrogen.

A tiny but significant amount is carbon dioxide (around 0.03%).

The Atmosphere

Highest skydive was 37km.

ISS is 330km above Earth.

Earth’s atmosphere

is comparatively

thinner than the

skin on an apple.

Acid Rain

Acid Rain

Used to be caused by factories releasing SO2 and NO but due to a concerted effort by governments working together it is no longer an issue.

Thinning of the Ozone Layer

Thinning of the Ozone Layer

Thinning of the Ozone Layer

Ozone (O3) exists in the upper atmosphere and protects us from UV rays.

Photochemical smog (eg NO) and CFCs bind to the oxygen atoms and prevent them from absorbing UV rays.

This is also no longer a problem as governments around the world again worked together to stop the use of CFCs.

Other Things We Have Fixed

Banning the use of pesticides that damage the environment.

Removal of lead from fuels and other heavy metals from paints and dyes.

Less use of solvent based enamel paints in favour of acrylic paints.

More consideration given to occupational health and safety.

The Carbon Cycle

The Carbon Cycle

The Carbon Cycle

Burning fossil fuels leads to the release of carbon dioxide, which contributes to the Greenhouse Effect.

Burning coal in power plants

C + O2 CO2

Burning methane for heat or cooking

CH4 + O2 CO2 + 2H2O

Burning octan in cars

2C8H18 + 25O2 16CO2 + 18H2O

The Carbon Cycle

The Carbon Cycle

The release of CO2 is also causing problems in our oceans by forming carbonic acid (H2CO3)raising the acidity of the water.

This is very damaging to coral and phytoplankton.

Limiting Risk

Scientists use material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and risk assessments to limit the danger to themselves and the environment.

MSDSs list all of the safety information regarding chemicals including: Physical and chemical properties

Effects it may have on the body

Safe handling procedures

First aid instructions

Disposal instructions

Risk Assessments

Weigh up all of the potential risks involved with a procedure including: The dangers of the reactants, products and by-products to

people as well as to the environment.

The risks of using any equipment involved in the procedure including glassware, electrical equipment etc.

Image Credits

‘Composition of Earth’s Atmosphere en’ By User:Dbc334 (File:Composition of Earth's atmosphere.svg) available at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Composition_of_Earth%27s_atmosphere_en.svg, via Wikimedia Commons

‘Carbon-Cycle-Full’ By Sahmed1890 (Own work) available at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Carbon-cycle-full.jpg, via Wikimedia Commons

‘Edge of Space’ By NOAA & Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason (from U.S. National Weather Service (NOAA) [1]) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Edge_of_Space.png, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Credits

‘Bleachedcoral’ Acropora at English Wikipedia available at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Bleachedcoral.jpg, via Wikimedia Commons