SCH4U - Chemistry 12 (2024-25) - A

Environmental Applications of Energy Changes and Rates of Reaction Assignment

As responsible citizens of the world as well as informed scientists, it is our responsibility to apply our knowledge to reduce the negative environmental impact we have on our planet.  As we have learned throughout this course, many principles of chemistry can be used to both help and harm the environment.  One application of chemical processes that has gained popularity in recent years is the practice of composting.  Composting is a way to take organic matter that would normally be thrown out and transferred to landfills to instead be broken down and re-used as fertilizer.  In this assignment you will be required to identify different ways that composting contributes to environmental sustainability and to suggest different ways to increase the efficiency of the chemical reactions that take place during composting.

Another important application of chemistry concepts is using our knowledge to improve the way we heat and cool our homes and offices.  By employing concepts of heat transfer, some companies have discovered novel ways to cool large office buildings using naturally cool deep lake water from nearby bodies of water.

Image Reference: The Worlds of David Darling