Question

List list the disadvantage of green chemistry

Answer 1

The major disadvantage is that is it simply not as effective. I fully support efforts to reduce or eliminate the use of chemicals that are harmful to the environment, but a small part of me misses the effectiveness of those chemicals. Example: a test I perform regularly used to use methylene chloride as a solvent. The stuff was great: effective, refused to mix with water, easy to separate, evaporated quickly. There was only one problem: the stuff was VERY toxic. So, the decision was made to switch it with the less-toxic hexane. It works, but not as well. It takes longer, doesn’t separate from water as easily, and can emulsify (mix with water in tiny droplets that take forever to separate out again). My tests take longer to perform, and aren’t quite as efficient. Still, I’m not at as high a risk of poisoning myself when I perform it anymore, so there’s that.