A chemical company produces ammonia using the Haber process. The company sells some of the ammonia directly to farmers as a fertiliser, and converts the rest into other useful chemicals. Explain why the chemical industry is considered important to the economy and society, and describe two key features that distinguish a bulk chemical from a fine chemical.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
The chemical industry is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the world. It produces a wide range of substances, from large-scale commodities to small quantities of specialised products. Companies must balance profit with responsible production.
Model answer (5 marks)
The chemical industry is a major source of employment and contributes significantly to national GDP.
It supplies essential substances for everyday life, health, agriculture and manufacturing.
A bulk chemical is produced in very large quantities, usually thousands or millions of tonnes per year.
A fine chemical is produced in much smaller quantities.
Fine chemicals are more expensive per kilogram and are highly pure or specialised, e.g. pharmaceuticals or fragrances.
It supplies essential substances for everyday life, health, agriculture and manufacturing.
A bulk chemical is produced in very large quantities, usually thousands or millions of tonnes per year.
A fine chemical is produced in much smaller quantities.
Fine chemicals are more expensive per kilogram and are highly pure or specialised, e.g. pharmaceuticals or fragrances.
Examiner tips
- Use the exact phrases from the mark scheme – ‘creates jobs’, ‘contributes to the economy’, ‘essential substances’, ‘large quantities’, ‘small quantities’, ‘more expensive’, ‘highly pure or specialised’.
- Keep each point brief – one sentence per point to fit the 5‑mark structure.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up bulk and fine chemicals – describing bulk as small or fine as large.
- Using vague terms like ‘important’ without linking to jobs or GDP.
- Omitting the cost or purity distinction for fine chemicals.
Mark scheme (5 marks)
- The chemical industry is important because it creates jobs / contributes to the economy / generates wealth for the country
- The chemical industry is important because it produces substances essential to everyday life / health / agriculture / manufacturing
- A bulk chemical is produced in large quantities (thousands or millions of tonnes per year)
- A fine chemical is produced in small quantities
- Fine chemicals are more expensive (per kilogram) than bulk chemicals / fine chemicals are highly pure or specialised substances such as pharmaceuticals or fragrances
Key terms in this question
bulk chemical · fine chemical · chemical industry
Related
- All OCR A-Level Chemistry B: Salters (H433) revision notes →
- How to answer a "Explain" question →
- Decode the mark scheme abbreviations →
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