Green chemistry: foreword to the UK versionModern civilization has flourished in part because of the wide-ranging achievements of chemical scientists. Thanks to advances in our discipline, chemists have helped improve the quality of life for millions in numerous areas: medicine, agriculture and food production, energy usage, durable and inexpensive consumer goods, etc. However, to many of the public, these advances appear to have come at too high a price to the environment. Today’s chemists are well aware of the breadth and implications of their work and the responsibilities that come with being a chemical scientist. They know that what chemistry produces today will have an impact on future generations. Thus, in their excitement in making new discoveries, responsible chemists never lose sight of the importance of high ethical and environmental standards and strongly support chemistry for sustainable development. Of special interest is the new field of “green (or sustainable) chemistry”, where chemical scientists are exploring ways to reduce pollution by devising new industrial processes that eliminate, or significantly reduce, pollution in the first place. These new processes also conserve materials and energy, and save money by eliminating the need for costly pollution controls and cleanup. This new way of looking at industrial processes offers an exciting intellectual challenge for chemical scientists and engineers. This resource, the U.K. version, drawing upon materials produced collaboratively by the chemical societies of Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, is intended to help teachers introduce students to the basic principles of sustainable chemistry as part of their traditional beginning chemistry course. Not only will students and teachers become more aware of the efforts that chemical scientists are making to find more sustainable and less hazardous ways of producing the many beneficial products we use today but, we hope, this resource will encourage students to consider a career in chemistry, where they can continue this vital and exciting work.
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