Chemical Education

In 2015 the United Nations created a framework comprising 17 aspirational goals known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a view towards peace and prosperity by 2030. Green Chemistry (GC) has always been recognized as a pathway to sustainability. However, the best solutions cannot be found if we look at each of these separately, but rather it is important to apply a systems thinking approach and recognize the interconnected nature of the systems being studied.

The introduction of recent science discourses around real-world issues into the classroom is challenging for chemistry educators. Carbon sequestration is one potential topic in this respect. On the basis of a demonstration experiment, it is suggested here to use the silicate mineral olivine as a way to introduce the concept of CO2 sequestration. This real-world topic can be used to introduce standard chemistry topics taught in secondary school, such as pH and electrical conductivity.