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Societal Implications and Applications
Organic chemistry is one of the most involved units in terms of links to society in applications and implications. The environmental implications and applications such as ozone depletion and climate change due to our combustion of fossil fuels are extremely important, but more relevant to the first half of the unit.
This second half of the unit introduces functional groups, many of which are present in drugs, both illegal and pharmaceutical. For example, ethanol is one of the most consumed organic chemicals in the world, and causes a large amount of health problems. Caffeine is another commonly consumed organic chemical, which teenagers consume a large amount as well.
Also, many organic chemicals are used in life. Many solvents are organic in nature, especially ethers which are one of the most frequently used solvents. Plastics that make up huge portions of what we own are made from organic chemicals, polymers, as well as some other chemicals that are used for more extreme situations, such as Kevlar and explosives.
Organic chemicals are clearly extremely important and our lives are heavily involved in and dependent on organic chemistry and the chemicals which are made, though, like CFCs and fossil fuels, they are also a major issue with some of them and their potential harm, drugs included. Explaining the uses and possible harm organic chemicals can do is extremely important for students, as it connects them to what they are learning about,
This second half of the unit introduces functional groups, many of which are present in drugs, both illegal and pharmaceutical. For example, ethanol is one of the most consumed organic chemicals in the world, and causes a large amount of health problems. Caffeine is another commonly consumed organic chemical, which teenagers consume a large amount as well.
Also, many organic chemicals are used in life. Many solvents are organic in nature, especially ethers which are one of the most frequently used solvents. Plastics that make up huge portions of what we own are made from organic chemicals, polymers, as well as some other chemicals that are used for more extreme situations, such as Kevlar and explosives.
Organic chemicals are clearly extremely important and our lives are heavily involved in and dependent on organic chemistry and the chemicals which are made, though, like CFCs and fossil fuels, they are also a major issue with some of them and their potential harm, drugs included. Explaining the uses and possible harm organic chemicals can do is extremely important for students, as it connects them to what they are learning about,