In the following three instances, which choice is greener in a chemical process? Explain. (a) A reaction that can be run at 350 K for 12 h without a catalyst or one that can be run at 300 K for 1 h with a reusable catalyst.

Video transcript

Hi everyone for this problem, we are asked which of the following reactions is a greener chemical process. So, essentially, here we're being asked which one is a safer chemical process. So, let's take a look. A methanol is used as a solvent for the reaction. The reaction reaches completion after eight hours without the catalyst or be water is used as a solvent for the reaction. The reaction reaches completion after one hour with a catalyst. So here we're comparing methanol to water and we also have a time frame associated with both. For methanol, it reaches completion after eight hours and without a catalyst. And for option B it reaches completion after one hour with a catalyst. So, which one of these is a greener chemical process. So, if we take a look, water is the safer solvent because it's non toxic to the environment compared to methanol. It's also the faster reaction out of the two given here. So it's undergoing catalysis because it says with a catalyst. So, because it's undergoing catalysis, it's faster and has a lower energy requirement. So, in terms of a greener chemical process, answer Choice B is going to be our greener chemical process. Okay, so that's the answer to this problem. And that's the end of this problem. I hope this was helpful