Question

Q. Using examples, discuss how understanding chemical ecology and its role in nature can aid in solving challenges facing humankind? Discuss in your answer both the challenge and how nature-inspired chemistry can be used to solve/prevent it.

Answer 1

Ans: Understanding the chemical ecology can help in solving thechallanges faced by human. This can be shown using following examples:

(1) Use of Chloroflourocarbons (CFC) is causing ozone depletion. CFC releases cl free radical in environment, which break down the ozone molecule. Due to this ozone layer is decreasing day by day.

Now, CFCs are used in ACs, refrigerator as cooling gas and in sprays. By studying the chemical ecology of ozone layer, we know that cl free radicals are dangerous for ozone. Hence, we had developed other alternatives like Hydroflourocarbons(HFCs).

(2) Gases like SO2, SO3, NOx etc. combine with water present in atmosphere and form acids, which fall on earth in the form of acidic rain. Knowing the chemistry of these gases we find the cause of decreased ph of rain water and its harmful effects.  To prevent this, we make efforts to decrease the release of these gases in atmosphere, like using gas based fuel (CNG, LPG etc), treatment of gases in industries before release.