Earth Science: Chemistry – Organic and Biochemistry – Economy and Ecology
No part of the economy can manage without the products of the chemical industry.
The industry generates billions of dollars in revenue; however, we should not ignore the possible danger from their products and installations.
Earth Science: Chemistry – Organic and Biochemistry – Economy
The chemical industry and its many products are involved in every branch of industrial production from automobile assembly lines to building constructions, employing millions of people worldwide.
The chemical industry constantly researches and develops new materials of every description to help businesses deliver new and improved products to consumer and industrial markets. New materials help increase the durability of consumer goods such as shoes, clothing, and sports equipment. Such materials can also give capital goods-such as industrial robots, heavy machines, and electronic parts-longer lifespans.
The advent of new and innovative synthetics has allowed lighter, more comfortable automobiles to be manufactured, and wood floors and furniture no longer release hazardous substances now that manufacturers are able to use new, solvent-free adhesives to assemble them. New materials with brand-new optical properties allow large quantities of data to be exchanged at high speeds using fiber-optic cables.
Advanced chemical innovations help reduce the many expenses associated with production processes. The actual contributed commercial value of chemical products is relatively minor in comparison to the total value of most end products of which they are a part, but their absence would put the economy of the entire industrialized world in a serious bind.
Chemistry in the global market
The United States makes more chemicals than any other country in the world. In 2005, American chemical companies produced chemicals worth approximately $593 billion and employed about 880,000 people. In addition, many jobs in ancillary industries directly depend upon the chemical industry, and consumer spending on chemical-related products creates new jobs in many other fields.
Although the U.S. dominates the international chemical market, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and Japan are also major players in global chemical production.
Processes in the benzene production chain
From raw materials to end products, the chemical industry is its own biggest customer. The production of chemicals takes place across many stages, each of which requires processing that involves a variety of other chemicals. One major production chain begins with chlorine-alkali electrolysis, and another chain begins with the production of ammonia. The initial product of yet another important production chain is crude oil.
Benzene, for example, is converted into cumene before substances can be developed from it that are used to produce lacquers and plastics. Even at its basic initial stage, benzene can also be converted into ethylbenzene, cyclohexane, aniline, and chlorobenzene.
SULFURIC ACID
Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) belongs to the most important inorganic acid, and it is produced in huge quantities by the chemical industry. However, only a small portion of it is used directly as sulfuric acid; most of it is utilized as a base ingredient in the manufacture of secondary products.
Sulfuric acid is particularly important for the production of fertilizers (e.g.. ammonium sulfate) and other inorganic acids, and for paints and cosmetics. The sulfuric acid production of a particular country can be used to gauge its level of development and the significance of its chemical industry.