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University Curriculum - Section One

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Course Syllabus

This course explores the fundamentals of chemistry, how chemistry can help address global human health and environmental issues. It provides an introduction to the foundational principles of chemistry including atoms, molecules, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, chemical/physical properties, and periodic table trends. This knowledge is then related to various environmental and human health issues, and develop the appropriate solutions using green chemistry approaches covered in the course.

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Additional Materials, including a grading worksheet and the PowerPoint Template can be found at the end of the page "University Curriculum - Section Three".

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You can also download all of the materials at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rajl43wp94nm8vy/AACkAgwekBtwBGLUsOG56MLsa?dl=0

Lecture 1 - Course Introduction & Accidents and their Unintentional Consequences
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Lesson Plan 1: Course Introduction & Accidents and their Unintentional Consequences
In this lecture students will learn about the course requirements and the innovative capabilities of Green Chemistry which will be covered during next 14 weeks. Students will also learn that accidents can be reduced or prevented with a thoughtful design using Green Chemistry principles.
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Presentation 1: Course Introduction & Accidents and their Unintentional Consequences
  • Course Introduction

  • Lets Take a Look Back

    • Chemical Plant Disasters

    • Consumer Products (DDT and BPA/Endocrine Disruptors)

    • Academics

  • Why do Green Chemistry?

Reading: Bhopal Plant Disaster – Situation Summary
Lecture 2 - Green Chemistry: Reimagining Chemistry
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Lesson Plan 2: Green Chemistry: Reimagining Chemistry
In this class students will learn the definition of Green Chemistry and reflect on the last 25 years of Green Chemistry innovation. They will also explore the main drivers to implement Green Chemistry throughout the world and some of the latest Green Chemistry trends.
Presentation 2: Green Chemistry: Reimagining Chemistry
  • What is Green Chemistry?

    • 12 Principles of Green Chemistry

  • What drives Green Chemistry?

  • 25 Years of Progress

  • The Future of Green Chemistry

Lecture 3 - 12 Principles of Green Chemistry
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Lesson Plan 3: 12 Principles of Green Chemistry
In this lecture students will learn about the 12 Green Chemistry Principles and explore industrial examples of implementing the principles.
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Presentation 3: 12 Principles of Green Chemistry

1. Waste Prevention

2. Atom Economy

3. Less Hazardous Chemical Synthesis

4. Designing Safer Chemicals

5. Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries

6. Design for Energy Efficiency

7. Use of Renewable Feedstocks

8. Reduce Derivatives

9. Catalysis

10. Design for Degradation

11. Real-time Analysis for Pollution Prevention

12. Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention

Reading: Presidential Green Chemistry Awards 1996-2016
Class Exercise: E-Factor
Class Exercise: Writing the 12 Principles
Lecture 4 - It All Starts at the Beginning
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Lesson Plan 4: It All Starts at the Beginning
In this lecture students will refresh their fundamental chemistry knowledge: periodic table and atoms. Knowing fundamentals is vital for understanding the Green Chemistry reactions which will be covered later in the semester.
Presentation 4: It All Starts at the Beginning
  • Periodic Table

    • Why is it useful

    • Reading the periodic table

    • Isotopic Symbols

  • Atoms to Elements

  • Periodic Trend

    • Connection to bonding

  • Elements: Relevancy to Green Chemistry

Handout: The History of the Atom
Class Exercise: Periodic Table Battleship Game
Lecture 5 - The Molecule
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Lesson Plan 5: The Molecule
In this lecture, students will be introduced to molecules and how to properly draw and assign nomenclature. This lecture will focus on the fundamental ways to identify molecules and extrapolate to organic nomenclature. Since the majority of the content in later lectures will focus on organic molecules and their functional groups, it is important that student have the skills to name and draw organic structures.
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Presentation 5: The Molecule
  • Molecules and Compounds

  • Drawing Molecules

  • Nomenclature of Molecules

  • Functional Groups

    • Properties

Homework 1: Molecules and Nomenclature
Homework 1: Answer Key
Class Exercise: Molecules
Class Exercise: Molecules - Answer Key
Lesson: Chemical Hazard Awareness
Lesson: Chemical Hazard Awareness - Answer Key
Handout: Organic Compounds Nomenclature
Handout: Organic Molecule Nomenclature Steps
Activity: Polymers and Models
Handout: IUPAC Naming System
Lecture 6 - Stoichiometry and Reactions
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Lesson Plan 6: Stoichiometry and Reactions
In this lecture, students will continue to build their chemistry fundamentals. They will practice balancing equations and different types of chemical reactions. Finally, they will learn about biomimicry – an inspiration from nature to build new molecules and products.
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Presentation 6: Stoichiometry and Reactions
  • Stoichiometry & Calculations

  • Reactions

  • Important Named Reactions

  • Lab vs. Nature

  • Green Chemistry in Perspective

    • Reagents, solvents, and reactors

    • Biomimicry

Class Exercise: Reactions Lab
Class Exercise: Stoichiometry Challenge
Class Exercise: Biomimicry Matching Game
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Activity: Biomimicry
Case Study: Vitamin C Clock Reaction
Activity: Empirical Formula
Brief Intro to Green Chemistry and Biomimicry
Lecture 7 - Limiting Reagent, Yield, and Atom Economy
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Lesson Plan 7: Limiting Reagent, Yield, and Atom Economy
In this lecture, students will be introduced to the concepts of limiting reagents, yield, and atom economy. Building upon their working knowledge of balancing equations and stoichiometry, students will apply those core skills to determine the efficiency of reactions based upon molecular factors. This lecture will focus on the fundamental ways molecules are evaluated on their efficacy and extrapolate to the Green Chemistry metrics. Since the majority of the content in this lecture focuses on organic molecules and their functional groups, it is important that student have these skills reinforced by continuing to name and draw organic structures when performing calculations.
Presentation 7: Limiting Reagent, Yield, and Atom Economy
  • Limiting Reagent

  • Theoretical and Percent Yield

    • Current norm for reaction efficiency

  • Atom Economy

    • New Green Chemistry reaction metric

  • E-Factor

Homework 2: Stoichiometry and Reactions
Homework 2: Answer Key
Class Exercise: Green Synthesis of Ibprofen
Class Exercise: Green Synthesis of Ibuprofen Answer Key
The EcoScale as a Framework for Undergraduate Green Chemistry Teaching and Assessment
Lecture 8 - Exam 1
Exam 1
Exam 1 Answer Key
Class Exercise: Periodic Table Battleship Game
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