Sustainable from the start-an exploration of green chemistry utilizing second-year inorganic principles

Abstract

Inorganic chemistry plays a large role in the development of chemical methodologies targetting sustainable development goals such as clean energy (7), responsible consumption and production (12), and climate action (13). Catalysis, one of the 12 green chemistry principles, is ubiquitous across industry. Green chemistry developments in catalysis focus on the utilization of base metals or main group species in place of current precious metal systems. Research in this area requires a holistic approach, balancing ligand design, additives, solvent, and energy consumption in order to improve the sustainability of the system while maintaining high efficiency. The inquiry-based and gamified activities described herein are designed to integrate individuals into the green chemistry community, build confidence in green chemistry content, and explore discipline-specific applications. The activities were applied at the 2025 Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition across two symposia, “Peering into the Mist” and “Exploring Green Catalysis”. Similarly, two activities were implemented into a third-year inorganic chemistry course exploring green chemistry. Activity outcomes and insights are described, including commentary on challenges such as classroom silence and its relationship with student motivation.