# 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.

> OCR A-Level Chemistry B: Salters (H433) — CI The chemical industry · Explain · 5 marks

> 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.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Fine chemicals (such as the painkiller) are produced in small quantities / low volumes
2. Fine chemicals are sold at a higher price (per kilogram) than bulk chemicals
3. Fine chemicals require a higher purity / must meet strict purity specifications
4. Fine chemicals are made using batch processes (whereas bulk chemicals use continuous processes)
5. Batch processes allow different products to be made in the same equipment / are more flexible, allowing production to be stopped and started

## Key terms

- [fine chemical](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/fine-chemical)
- [bulk chemical](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/bulk-chemical)

## Related

- [Revision notes for OCR A-Level Chemistry B: Salters (H433)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-pharmaceutical-company-wants-to-produce-64d82079) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.