Many chemistry educators agree that green and sustainable chemistry should be incorporated into the chemistry curriculum, but we don’t always know how to do it. This issue can be made even more difficult by the lack of complementary textbook readings to assign to students. During 2021, basic concepts of green and sustainable chemistry were incorporated into a two-semester organic chemistry course at Xavier University with the help of a new organic chemistry textbook, <i>Organic Chemistry: A Learner-Centered Approach </i>by Richard J. Mullins. Along with Chemistry in Context sections focusing on green chemistry pertinent to each chapter, the textbook also has one chapter dedicated to green chemistry. This chapter presents green chemistry through the lens of the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, developed by Paul Anastas and John Warner. While there are many ways to present green and sustainable chemistry, the 12 principles serve as an accessible introduction for students. These sections in the textbook were used as a framework to include green chemistry topics in the appropriate places in the curriculum throughout the two semesters. Students were also assessed on green chemistry in reading quizzes and on exams. Examples of these topics, assessments, and the course calendar will be presented. At the end of the semester, students participated in a group project in which they learned about a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award winner and identified how the innovation fits into both the green chemistry principles and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which were introduced during the corresponding organic chemistry laboratory class.

Small change for a big impact: Using a new textbook to add green chemistry into an organic chemistry course

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.