Simple green organic chemistry experiments with the kitchen microwave for high school chemistry classrooms

Abstract Microwave systems have been used in organic chemistry since the late 1990s for applications including Microwave-Assisted Organic Synthesis (MAOS). The main advantages of microwave-assisted procedures compared to traditional synthesis methods are the 100- to 1000-fold increase in reaction speeds, higher yields, purer products, and less energy consumption. So far, only a few examples for integrating microwave-induced chemistry into high school chemistry classes have been proposed. This paper presents a set of experiments intended to provide insights into using microwave technology in the context of green, organic chemistry lessons in high school.