Societal Implications & Applications

There are many societal implications and applications that relate to the matter, chemical trends, and chemical bonding unit of the course. The following are just a few applications that you can explore with your students. The students will also be doing their own research on societal implications with the Green Chemistry STSE Culminating Task.

Isotopes

• Carbon-14 dating. Uses the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 to determine the age of organic material up to 60,000 years old

Figure B.25: Carbon 14 Dating

• Americium-241 is found in smoke detectors. One of the radioactive properties of this material allows for smoke detection at an early stage

Figure B.26: Ionization Chamber

• Cobalt-60 is used for food irradiation. Food is exposed to the radiation of this element in order to kill bacteria and microorganisms that may be on it
• http://chemteacher.chemeddl.org/services/chemteacher/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75

Protons

• Proton therapy is a new cancer treatment. A beam of protons is directed at a tumor in order to damage the tumor cells' DNA so they cannot reproduce.
• http://chemteacher.chemeddl.org/services/chemteacher/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31

Figure B.27: Proton Therapy Set-Up

Figure B.28: Proton Therapy Gantry

Elements

• Lithium salts burn red and are used in fireworks and pyrotechnics. It is also a main component of the the lithium-ion battery.
• Sodium is used in the paper, textile, and petroleum industries
• Potassium is used in fertilizers
• Calcium is are in toothpastes, insecticides, fertilizers, paints, fireworks, flares, and cosmetics
• http://chemteacher.chemeddl.org/services/chemteacher/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100
• http://chemteacher.chemeddl.org/services/chemteacher/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101

Figure B.29: Fireworks

Figure B.30: Arm & Hammer Toothpaste

Figure B.31: Develop 10 Calcium Gel Figure B.32: Lesco Turf Fertilizer

Next: Assessment