Advancing sustainable practice in an UG inorganic chemistry experiment

Aims: The research investigated opportunities to advance sustainable practice within the context of an undergraduate inorganic chemistry experiment. Place and Duration of Study: Dept of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, between October 2023 and April 2024. Methodology: A synthetic inorganic experiment taught to level 3 undergraduate students was assessed against 5 different green chemistry principles. The practical chosen for study in this research was a N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex of copper (I) chloride which was synthesized in three steps. Results: Step 1 and step 3 of the synthesis was improved, and the modified methods led to increased sustainable practice in terms of: reduced quantities of resources, reduced solvents, green solvents, reduced waste and reduced energy consumption. Conclusion: The new laboratory synthesis improved sustainable practice by increased performance against 5 green chemistry principles. The educational experience of students has been maintained whilst improving sustainable practice within the synthetic chemistry module in the undergraduate chemistry programme. When reviewing experiments within chemistry curricula, staff should be encouraged to review potential improvements in synthetic mechanisms to enhance sustainable practice.