A pharmaceutical company wants to produce a new painkiller medicine. The company must decide whether to manufacture the painkiller in-house or buy a ready-made feedstock from a bulk chemical supplier. Explain why the painkiller is classified as a fine chemical rather than a bulk chemical, and describe two differences in how fine chemicals are typically manufactured compared to bulk chemicals.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
The new painkiller must be produced to a very high level of purity and in relatively small quantities. The bulk chemical supplier produces sulfuric acid on an industrial scale.
Model answer (5 marks)
Fine chemicals are produced in small quantities, typically in the range of a few kilograms to a few tonnes, whereas bulk chemicals are produced in thousands of tonnes.
Fine chemicals are sold at a much higher price per kilogram because they are specialised, high‑purity products.
Fine chemicals must meet strict purity specifications, often 99.9 % or higher, to be suitable for pharmaceutical use.
Fine chemicals are usually manufactured by batch processes, in contrast to the continuous processes used for bulk chemicals.
Batch processes are more flexible: the same equipment can be used to produce different products and production can be stopped and started as required.
Fine chemicals are sold at a much higher price per kilogram because they are specialised, high‑purity products.
Fine chemicals must meet strict purity specifications, often 99.9 % or higher, to be suitable for pharmaceutical use.
Fine chemicals are usually manufactured by batch processes, in contrast to the continuous processes used for bulk chemicals.
Batch processes are more flexible: the same equipment can be used to produce different products and production can be stopped and started as required.
Examiner tips
- Use the exact terms ‘small quantities’, ‘high price’, ‘strict purity’, ‘batch process’ and ‘continuous process’.
- Show the contrast between batch and continuous to earn the process‑difference marks.
Common mistakes
- Confusing bulk and fine chemicals as the same; not mentioning the price difference.
- Failing to state that batch processes allow flexibility and product change‑over.
Mark scheme (5 marks)
- Fine chemicals (such as the painkiller) are produced in small quantities / low volumes
- Fine chemicals are sold at a higher price (per kilogram) than bulk chemicals
- Fine chemicals require a higher purity / must meet strict purity specifications
- Fine chemicals are made using batch processes (whereas bulk chemicals use continuous processes)
- Batch processes allow different products to be made in the same equipment / are more flexible, allowing production to be stopped and started
Key terms in this question
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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