Eric Sprys

Jayden Emberton-Gaines

CST Assignment 1

4-20-18

An oxidation reaction is a useful reaction that can be used to turn a 1° alcohol into a

aldehyde and a 2° alcohol into a ketone. The aldehyde can then be reacted with another

equivalence of the oxidizing agent to form a carboxylic acid. If the oxidizing agent is CrO3

however the 1° alcohol will go straight to the carboxylic acid because CrO3 is a very powerful

oxidizing agent. An example of a CrO3 oxidizing a 1° alcohol to a carboxylic acid can be seen in

Figure 1. CrO3 is not used in industry very often anymore because it is toxic to humans. In the

past CrO3 was once used to make some of the first breathalyzers. It was also used to create

salicylic acid which was similar and lead to aspirin which we still have today.

Figure 1. Oxidation of a 1° alcohol by CrO3 .

As useful as oxidation reactions are some are very bad for humans and the environment

because, “Alcohol oxidations are typically performed with stoichiometric reagents that generate

heavy-metal waste and are usually run in chlorinated solvents” (Brink, 2000). Oxidations using

CrO3 are no exception and this is why Jones Reagent is not used very often anymore. CrO3

affects many parts of the human body like, “kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, upper

respiratory tract, skin, eyes” in negative ways (MSDS, CrO3). If it comes in contact with skin or
eyes it can be irritating and cause chemical burns. More severe exposure can lead to blistering,

corneal damage, and blindness (MSDS, CrO3). CrO3 can also cause problems if it is inhaled or

ingested. Inhalation would cause burning of the respiratory tract, sneezing, and coughing. In the

long run CrO3 also has major effects to the body. It is a known carcinogen and this is very bad

for humans. Not only is it bad for humans CrO3 can also cause cancer in in mammals and it is a

mutagenic agent for bacteria. If any CrO3 go out into a natural environment it could get into a

small animal and work it’s way up the food chain until it affect humans as well. Using CrO3 in

oxidation does not meet many of the green chemistry principles. For principle 3 CrO3 generates

substance that are toxic to both humans and the environment. The reaction also does not

incorporate all material used in the final product. There are byproducts and other unwanted

substances. These reagents are also not renewable. This is inefficient and it will cost companies

more money that could be used elsewhere.

One green way that alcohols can be oxidized is using “tert-Butyl hydrogen peroxide

(TBHP) in the presence of a catalytic amount of recyclable magnetic nanoparticle-supported

oxo-vanadium ephedrine complex (VO(ephedrine)2@MNPs) in PEG as a green solvent at 80°C”

(Rostami, 2017). This reaction is much better for humans and the environment so it is beneficial

to use. An example of this reaction can be seen in Figure 2. TBHP is better for humans and the

environment because it has no carcinogenic or mutagenic effects. TBHP is also less severe if it

comes in contact with a person's skin or eyes. It takes prolonged exposure to the skin to cause

burns. This method of oxidation is energy efficient because, “The catalyst can be magnetically

recycled and successfully reused in six subsequent reaction cycles with only slight decreases of

its catalytic activity” (Rostami, 2017). This also makes the reaction renewable which is better for
the environment. All together this reaction is a much better option than using CrO3 to oxidize

alcohols especially when it comes to human and environmental health.

Figure 2. TBHP being used as an oxidizing agent in a green solvent.

Catholic Social Teaching is the catholic doctrines that provide knowledge on the matters

of human dignity as well as the common good in society. Pollution as well as climate change is

a major subject within CST. When oxidations occur with the CrO3 reagent pollution often

occurs. Most scientific reactions produce pollution which is not good for the environment in

which we live in or the people who live in it. CST teaches that pollution can cause many

different types of health hazards, these hazards however are going to mostly affect the poor and

the environment. However, the pollution from these reactions will eventually affect everyone

because the climate is common good and is meant for everyone. CST teaches that if humanity

does not begin to change lifestyles, production, and consumption, global warming will continue

to destroy the climate and ecosystems as we know it, and everyone will be affected because of it.

Pope Benedict XVI once said, “On this earth there is room for everyone: here the entire human

family must find the resources to live with dignity, through the help of nature itself—God’s gift

to his children—and through hard work and creativity. At the same time we must recognize our

grave duty to hand the earth on to future generations in such a condition that they too can

worthily inhabit it and continue to cultivate it.” (Charity in Truth, no. 50). This statement by

Pope Benedict XVI proves to us that with the use of harmful oxidizing agents we might not be
able to withhold our grave duty on this planet which is to pass the earth down to future

generations in good enough condition to where they can inhabit it as well as cultivate it. With

the pollution being produced from the harmful oxidations it will be very difficult to keep God’s

gift of nature good enough for inhabitation and agriculture of future generations to come.
References

Brink, Gerd-Jan, et al. Green, Catalytic Oxidation of Alcohols in Water. 3 Mar. 2000,
file:///Users/JTquartocinco45/Downloads/CST%20project%20Resource%20%20(1).pdf.

“Care for God's Creation: Principle at a Glance.” Care for God's Creation: Principle at a Glance
| Education for Justice | Catholic Social Teaching,
educationforjustice.org/node/3054/view/268.

“CST 101: Care for Gods Creation.” United States Conference of Catholic Bishops , 2010,
www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/upload/cs
t-101-care-for-gods-creation-discussion-guide.pdf.

“ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE

FOR OUR COMMON HOME.” Laudato Si' (24 May 2015) | Francis,
w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_en
ciclica-laudato-si.html.

“Material Safety Data Sheet Chromium Trioxide MSDS.” Science Lab.com Chemicals and
Laboratory Equipment , 21 May 2013,
www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9923475.

Rostami, Amin, et al. “Efficient and Green Oxidation of Alcohols with Tert -Butyl
Hydrogenperoxide Catalyzed by a Recyclable Magnetic Core-Shell
Nanoparticle-Supported Oxo-Vanadium Ephedrine Complex.” Comptes Rendus Chimie,
vol. 20, no. 4, 2017, pp. 435–439. SciFinder , doi:10.1016/j.crci.2016.08.003.