Question | Answer |
why do chemicals have to be made in different ways? | because the amounts are so different |
what process is used if something is needed in large amounts? | continuous process |
what is an example of something produced using the continuous process? | ammonia |
what process is used if something is needed in small amounts? | batch process |
what is an example of something produced using the batch process? | medicines |
what is an advantage of using batch process to make medicines? | new batches are made when the stored medicine runs low. if a lot of one medicine is needed, several batches can be made at the same time. |
what are 3 advantages of using the continuous process? | -works at full capacity all the time
-makes a large amount of product
-employs very few people, so the cost per tonne is very small |
what are 3 disadvantages of using the continuous process? | -costs an enormous amount to build
-only designed to work at one level of output
-can't easily change how much or what is made |
what is the main advantage of using the batch process? | easy to change from making one compound to another |
what are 2 disadvantages of using the batch process? | -have to be supervised - labour costs are higher
-not used as efficiently as time is wasted emptying, filling and cleaning vessels |
how does research, development and testing affect the cost of making medicines? | -takes many years to develop a new medicine
-takes even longer to test its safety |
how do the raw materials affect the cost of making medicines? | -may be rare and costly
-may need to be extracted from plants that are difficult to find
-separating the main chemical from the plant can be time consuming and expensive |
how does being labour intensive affect the cost of making medicines? | -made by batch process, which needs supervision
-less automation can be used |
what four factors affect whether or not a drug is developed? | -cost: can be expensive as it takes time and labour costs are high
-testing drugs to meet legal requirements can take years
-there must be enough demand for the drug
-length of time taken to pay back the initial investment is long |