Drug synthesis often involves solvents.

Identify a common hazardous solvent and a Green solvent that could replace it.

 

Hazardous solvent:

Any one of:

methanal/formaldehyde

methanol

chlorinated solvent/carbon tetrachloride/methylene chloride/dichloromethane

diethyl ether/ethoxyethane

 

benzene

OR

methyl benzene/toluene

OR

«1,2/1,3/1,4» dimethylbenzene/«ortho/o-/meta/m-/para/p-» xylene

 

Green solvent:

Any one of:

water

«supercritical/liquid» carbon dioxide/supercritical fluids

ethanol «only if replacing a hazardous solvent»

propan-2-ol/2-propanol/isopropanol «only if replacing a hazardous solvent»

propanone/acetone «only if replacing a hazardous solvent»

ethyl ethanoate/ethyl acetate «only if replacing a hazardous solvent»

organic carbonates/dimethyl carbonate/diethyl carbonate/ethylene

carbonate/propylene carbonate

ionic liquids

fluorous solvents

 

Accept correct names (either IUPAC or generic) or formulas.

Do not accept inorganic acids such as HCl, H₂SO₄, etc.

Accept any specific chlorinated solvent.

Accept other hazardous solvents.

Do not accept any solvent given as both hazardous and green.

Award [2] for combination “Hazardous solvent: dimethylformamide/DMF/N,N-dimethylmethanamide” AND “Green solvent: methanol «only if replacing a hazardous solvent»”.

Accept other green solvents but not “solvents from biomass/food waste”.

[2 marks]

[N/A]