The United States produced 32.5% of the world's chemical products in 2002 according to...

The United States produced 32.5% of the world's chemical products in 2002 according to "Global Top 50," Chemical alld Engineering News, July 28, 2003. Table P1-12.1 lists the 10 most produced chemicals in 2002.

Table P1-12.1. Chemical Production

(a) What were the 10 most produced chemicals for the year that just ended? Were there any significant changes from the 1995 statistics? (See Chapter 1 of 3rd edition of Elelllellts of CRE.) The same issue of C&E News ranks chemical companies as given in Table P1-12.2.

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(b) What to companies were tops in sales for the year just ended? Did any significant changes occur compared to the 2002 statistics?

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(c) Why do you think H2SO4 is the most produced chemical? What are some of its uses?

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(d) What is the current annual production rate (Ibm/yr) of ethylene, ethylene oxide, anel benzene?

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(e) Why do you suspect there are so few organic chemicals in the top 10?

Table Pl-12.2. Top Companies in Sales