A 2001 HSC INDUSTRIAL CHEM QUESTION:
"Evaluate how environmental issues are addressed in the Solvay Process"
How would u go about answering this quesiton?
I would recommend planning your answer first. Consider: what are the issues? How do they impact the environment? How are they addressed? Make sure to include a judgement.
Some examples:
Carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas) is recycled
Calcium chloride (waste cause there are limited uses) is pumped into oceans or the solid can be put in landfill (but this can pollute groundwater through leaching if the rock is porous so specific criteria must be met)
Waste water must be cooled (thermal pollution)
Ammonia is recycled but some is lost to the atmosphere (pollutant_
Solids were previously put in rivers and waterways but this is ugly and blocks rivers. How used for things like fertiliser, bricks or landfill
Overall, as most reactants/products are natural, good waste management means that there is minimal environmental issues.