Question

A high school class is discussing whether a particular discovery in chemistry has had a positive impact on society.

Which question is the most important for the students to answer?
How have people and the environment been affected by the discovery?
How many scientists were involved in the discovery?
When was the discovery made?
At which institution was the discovery made?

Answer 1

How have people and the environment been affected by the discovery?

This question directly addresses the discovery's societal and environmental consequences, which is what determines whether its overall impact was positive. The other questions are contextual but don't evaluate benefits or harms.