Which statement about green chemistry and waste/recycling is true?

• A. All reactions must be performed at high temperatures to increase yield
• B. Only nonrenewable feedstocks should be used
• C. Solar energy should replace all heating methods
• D. Recycling reagents and solvents is encouraged

Answer: (D)

Green chemistry aims to reduce waste and make efficient use of resources throughout a chemical process. A central practice is to minimize and manage waste by recycling reagents and solvents, which lowers environmental impact and often saves money. The other ideas miss this efficiency focus: high temperatures aren’t universally required and can waste energy; relying only on nonrenewable feedstocks goes against sustainability goals; solar energy cannot feasibly replace all heating methods in every reaction due to variability and practicality. So recycling reagents and solvents is the behavior green chemistry promotes most strongly.