Green Chemistry as Social Movement

The question posed was whether there are circumstances under which scientists and engineers doing their ordinary jobs can be thought of as participants in a social movement, and the answer is of course yes. It is tricky stuff, sometimes, the "pure science" of just discover what you discover, and leave politics to politicians, and the thought of scientists as participants. I know, but ethics plays a role in all we discover, and more importantly, in the directions we look towards, in search of discovery. I think of the physicists that inadvertently played a role in ushering in the era of nuclear warfare, and I know they didn't mean to go there. yet so much scientific research is funded by the military, or by big pharma, and so little by the environmentalists. So, it seems to keep coming down to money, and maybe not making big bucks for morally reprehensible industries is the first step, and instead being happy with the low income of the environmental engineers and scientists, or even better, as we come to realize, convince thebigger industries that there is money to be made in saving the planet and truly healing, rather than in war and viagra.

copper: catalyst of the week

from encyclopedia britannica: copper is a component of a variety of catalysts, can be used for selective hydrogenation of carbony groups. Also for use in a processs called the Wacker process, no longer in use commercially. But even cooler, is the copper wall project, where copper was used in various paranormal processes!

Atom Economy

Well, taking a second look at this website definitely was worth it. While the details are somewhat over my head, the idea is firmly based in good science. I think for a long time this kind of microcosmic economy has been ignored, so what if we lose a few atoms here and there through a cheap but ineffectual and toxic reagent. But like karma, it comes back to haunt us all.

http://www.edinformatics.com/math_science/water_concepts.htm

This website has some cool graphics showing the interaction of hydrogen and oxygen (water). It helps to see, always hard for me in lecture to visualize "what is going on" in chemical interactions, and the graphics help.

Transition Metal: Copper

Copper basics: symbol Cu, atomic Number 29, atomic mass 63.546. It has 29 electrons/protons, and 35 neutrons. Copper is used as an electrical conductor. It is also used in jewelry, coins, plumbing and other construction, as well as in medicine (it has antibacterial and antifungal properties for use in wound treatment & skin diseases). copper is also an essential micronutruent for aerobic life. Copper "plays a vital part in the development and performance of the human nervous and cardiovascular systems, as well as the skin, bone, immune and reproductive systems, including gene transcription"(Copper.org)

My family discussion on ozone

Yeah, yeah, yeah, there's a hole in the ozone layer. My family knows that. What to do about it? Ride bikes, sure. Drive a little less, sure. But beyond that, it's hard to get them to think about it much. They know that Gore was going to be the "ozone" president, and it's all good till it effects their pocket books, I think. but at least it is known about, although still, they are not sure about global warming. To be honest, I don't always know what to say. I think I was able to clarify things a little though, concerning the amount of UV that gets through thanks to the holes in the ozone that were not there before. I tend to think we should all do more than we do, before we reach the tipping point, but yeah, I still drive, etc. Talking with my family about ozone is like talking to myself, disturbing, and not nearly an in depth enough of a conversation.

Hydrogen is # 1! (Element of the Week)

Hydrogen is made of a single proton and a single electron (Atomic # 1). It's atomic weight is 1.00794. Its unigue structure means it forms weak (but plentiful) "hydrogen bonds" and it is the simplest and most abundant element in the universe! Yeah, it means Hyrdro and Genes: Water Forming, and it a big part of what gives water its unique characteristics, which explains alot about the sustainability on the big blue marble we call home.
Aproximately 90% of the known universe is composed of hydrogen. Most stars use hydrogen as their fuel that they burn to produce energy. Star food! Our home planets star, Mr. Sun, is no exception, and should not run out of hydrogen for about another 5 billion years. There is something profound about this element. Period number 1, group number 1 on the periodic table, it is unique and special. But that doesn't mean all good news. The food industry uses it to "hydrogenate" oils "hydrogenation" but just because it is good star food, I don't think we should put it in our food in this manner! However, the fusion process used by the stars to produce energy is a possible source of alternative energy being studied. We've known about hydrogen for a long time. It was recognized by Henry Cavendish as an element in 1766.
So Taoist. Simple, but powerful. that is why it is #1.