English for Chemists

 
 
Green Chemistry 
 
1. What is the difference between ‘environmental chemistry’ and ‘green chemistry? Can 
these 2 terms be used as synonyms?
 
 
 
 
2. Read the following paragraph and fill the gaps with these 2 terms, as appropriate. 
__________________________, also called sustainable chemistry, is a chemical philosophy 
encouraging the design of products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of 
hazardous substances. Whereas __________________________ is the chemistry of the natural 

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environment, and of pollutant chemicals in nature, __________________________ seeks to reduce 
and prevent pollution at its source. 
 
Adapted from: www.wikipedia.org 
Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry 
1. Read the following 12 points and choose the best alternative for each of the underlined 
expressions.
1.
 
Prevent waste: Design chemical synthesies/syntheses to prevent waste, leaving no 
waste to treat or clean up/clean down.
2.
 
Design safer/more safe chemicals and products: Design chemical products to be 
full/fully effective/efficient, yet have little or no toxicity.
3.
 
Design less hazardous chemical syntheses/synthesies: Design syntheses/synthesies 
to use and generate matters/substances with little or no toxicity to humans and the 
environment.
4.
 
Use renewable/renewible feedstocks: Use raw materials and feedstocks that are 
renewable/renewible rather than depleting.
5.
 
Use catalysts, not stoichiometric reagents: Minimize waste by using catalytic 
equations/reactions. Catalysts use/are used in small amounts and can carry out/carry a 
single reaction many times.