| Date | May 2019 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 19M.3.sl.TZ1.19 |
| Level | SL | Paper | 3 | Time zone | TZ1 |
| Command term | Outline | Question number | 19 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Most of the nuclear waste generated in a hospital is low-level waste (LLW).
Outline what is meant by low-level waste.
Outline the disposal of LLW.
Markscheme
small/low amounts of radiation AND for a short time [✔]
Note: Accept “weakly ionizing radiation” instead of “small amounts of radiation”.
Accept “short half-lives” instead of “for a short time”.
stored in shielded containers until radiation drops «to a safe level» [✔]
Examiners report
Most candidates just listed items that low-level nuclear waste was likely to comprise, rather than giving two of its radiation characteristics (low activity, non-penetrating radiation, short half-life).
There appeared to be very limited awareness of the need to store low-level waste in shielded containers until the radiation falls to a negligible level.
Syllabus sections
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17N.3.hl.TZ0.21c:
Explain the low environmental impact of most medical nuclear waste.
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17M.3.sl.TZ2.19a:
Suggest one problem associated with chlorinated organic solvents as chemical waste.
- 16N.3.sl.TZ0.17c: The synthesis of oseltamivir is dependent on a supply of the precursor shikimic acid, which...
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17N.3.sl.TZ0.16:
Radioisotopes are used to diagnose and treat various diseases. Explain the low environmental impact of most medical nuclear waste.
- 16N.3.hl.TZ0.28d: Outline the nature of the radioactive waste that is generated by the use of technetium-99m in...
- 18N.3.sl.TZ0.12c: Outline one effect of over-prescription of penicillin.
- 19N.3.sl.TZ0.19a: Outline the impact of antibiotic waste on the environment.
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18N.3.sl.TZ0.16:
Suggest two reasons why chlorinated solvents should neither be released into the atmosphere nor incinerated (burnt).
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19M.3.sl.TZ2.15e:
Outline two factors which must be considered to assess the greenness of any chemical process.
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17M.3.sl.TZ1.21c:
Suggest why the administration of antibiotics to humans and animals can affect the environment.
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18M.3.sl.TZ2.20:
Drug synthesis often involves solvents.
Identify a common hazardous solvent and a Green solvent that could replace it.
- 19N.3.hl.TZ0.25c: Suggest a concern about the disposal of solvents from drug manufacturing.
- 19N.3.hl.TZ0.25b: Outline the impact of antibiotic waste on the environment.
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17M.3.sl.TZ1.19e:
The pharmaceutical industry is one of the largest producers of waste solvents.
State a green solution to the problem of organic solvent waste.
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19M.3.hl.TZ2.25a:
Examine the synthesis of taxol in terms of green chemistry criteria.
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19M.3.sl.TZ1.19b:
Outline the disposal of LLW.
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17M.3.sl.TZ2.19b:
Suggest how the principles of green chemistry can be used to solve the environmental problems caused by organic solvents.
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18M.3.sl.TZ1.13c.iii:
Outline two consequences of prescribing antibiotics such as penicillin unnecessarily.
- 19N.3.sl.TZ0.19b: Suggest a concern about the disposal of solvents from drug manufacturing.
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17M.3.hl.TZ1.25e:
The pharmaceutical industry is one of the largest producers of waste solvents.
State a green solution to the problem of organic solvent waste.
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18M.3.sl.TZ1.15b:
Shikimic acid, the precursor for oseltamivir (Tamiflu), was originally extracted from star anise, and is now produced using genetically modified E. coli bacteria.
Suggest one difficulty associated with synthesizing oseltamivir (Tamiflu) from star anise.
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17M.3.sl.TZ1.21b:
Oseltamivir was commercially produced from shikimic acid, a precursor which is a metabolite in micro-organisms and plants.
Outline how green chemistry was used to develop the precursor for oseltamivir in order to overcome a shortage of the drug during the flu season.
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20N.3.sl.TZ0.13b:
Outline a green chemistry solution for problems generated by the use of organic solvents.
- 20N.3.sl.TZ0.13a: Describe the proper disposal of low-level radioactive waste in hospitals.
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20N.3.hl.TZ0.17c:
Describe the proper disposal of low-level radioactive waste in hospitals.
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19M.3.hl.TZ1.24b(i):
Outline what is meant by low-level waste.
