Green experiments for the organic lab An organic chemistry lab for undergraduates developed at the University of Oregon, Eugene, reduces or eliminates the hazards posed by organic chemistry experiments. Reactions are performed with less toxic reagents and more environmentally benign solvents. To brominate alkenes, for example, a salt that releases bromine in an ethanol medium replaces the typical reagent, bromine in carbon tetrachloride.
Students also apply recently developed green chemistry.
Assistant chemistry professor James E. Hutchison and chemistry professor Kenneth M. Doxsee originally conceived the green lab to reduce the need for fume hoods when performing organic chemistry experiments. Among other benefits, the course provides a context for students to learn the real risks and hazards of chemicals. In this course, they realize that ethanol and benzene are different in terms of the associated hazards. And they can make an educated decision about whether a chemical should be handled in the hood or on the benchtop.