What is Green chemistry?
'''Green chemistry''' (or '''sustainable chemistry''') is a type of chemical research and engineering. It supports the design of products and processes that use as little dangerous substances as they can.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/ |title= Green Chemistry |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=2006-06-28 |accessdate=2011-03-23}}</ref> [[Environmental chemistry]] is the chemistry of the natural environment and of pollutant chemicals in nature. But green chemistry wants to reduce and prevent [[pollution]] at its source. In 1990, the Pollution Prevention Act was passed in the [[United States]]. This law sought original and new ways to handle pollution. It aims to avoid problems before they happen. Green chemistry applies [[organic chemistry]], [[inorganic chemistry]], [[biochemistry]], [[analytical chemistry]] and even [[physical chemistry]]. While green chemistry seems to focus on just industrial applications, it does apply to any chemistry choice. Green chemists reduce the hazards and increase the efficiency of any chemical choice. It is distinct from [[environmental chemistry]] which focuses on chemical phenomena in the environment. == The 12 principles of green chemistry == '''1. Prevent waste''' Create products without or with minimal wastes so that the wastes do not need to be taken care of afterwards. '''2. Design safer chemicals and products''' Design chemicals to have little or no [[wikt:toxic|toxicity]], without affecting effectiveness. '''3. Design less hazardous chemical synthesis''' Design a way of [[chemical synthesis|synthesising]] products without it being [[wikt:toxic|toxic]] to humans or the environment. '''4. Use renewable raw materials''' Use renewable raw materials, like plant materials, other than depleting ones, such as [[Fossil fuel]]s. '''5. Use catalysts, not [[Stoichiometry|stoichiometric]] reagents''' Use of [[catalyst]]s because of their ability to be able to be reused and that they are less harmful than [[reagent]]s. '''