Topics
1. Industrial chemistry processes have enabled scientists to develop replacements for natural products
2. Many industrial processes involve manipulation of equilibrium reactions
3. Sulfuric acid is one of the most important industrial chemicals
4. The industrial production of sodium hydroxide requires the use of electrolysis
5. Saponification is an important organic industrial process
6. The Solvay process has been in use since the 1860s
Contextual Outline
Industry uses chemical reactions to produce chemicals for use by society. This module develops the ideas that some chemicals have been produced to replace naturally occurring chemicals that are no longer available or are not economically viable. The concepts of qualitative and quantitative equilibrium are further developed.
Industrial chemical processes cover the full range of reactions but concentration on some case studies is sufficient to illustrate the range of reactions and the role of chemists and chemical engineers involved in these processes. This allows some insight into the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the chemical industry and allows a consideration of the analytical processes and monitoring that are necessary for efficient production.
This module increases students’ understanding of the history, applications and uses of chemistry, and current issues, research and developments in chemistry.