What is Green Chemistry?

     Green chemistry is the study and practice of designing and using products that reduce or eliminate hazardous materials.  The main idea here is to reduce the need for energy sources and to make products safer.  While reading online, I was able to find many instances where a practice that was considered an industry standard was discovered to be unsafe.  When this occurs, green chemists are able to find safer alternatives that are both cost-efficient and environmentally friendly.
     Another idea brought about by the rise of green chemistry is that it is easier to prevent a mess from being made than it is to clean up a mess that has already been made.  This is especially pertinent now, as our energy sources are running out and current industry practices are destroying the environment.  Green chemistry is quickly becoming more "trendy," and certainly making people more aware of the affect that humans have on the world around them.
     Supporting the idea of green chemistry are what is known as the "12 Principles of Green Chemistry."  These all seem pretty basic on their own; the list includes things like designing safer solvents and calling for  pollution prevention.  When they are all put together, it is a very straightforward set of ideals that illustrate the need for this type of work to be done.