Mechanochemistry in the undergraduate teaching laboratory

Abstract

Mechanochemistry, the facilitation of a chemical reaction through mechanical force, has seen a renaissance in recent years, largely because of its potential as an alternative sustainable synthetic route. However, while mechanochemistry supports the minimization or elimination of solvents and is a useful tool to teach green chemistry principles in an applied manner, its adoption by educators has been slow. This article provides a review of the contemporary teaching literature, highlighting its implementation in the undergraduate chemistry laboratory and its application towards integrating green chemistry principles, predominantly in organic and inorganic experiments, but also in other subdisciplines. Lastly, some perspectives are offered on the current challenges and the opportunities mechanochemistry presents for chemical education.