Chemistry 3650 Syllabus, Spring 2005 12:30-1:20 Business 216

Instructor: Dr. Philip J. Silva, 024 Widtsoe, 797-8192, psilva@cc.usu.edu

Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 1:30-2:20; Thursday 3:00-4:00

Prerequisite:  Science Breadth Class

Text (required): Stanley E. Manahan Environmental Chemistry 8th Edition, Lewis Publishers 2005
Supplemental Texts: handouts, web

Course Content: This course is a survey of chemical fate and transport in the environment as well as chemical impacts on the environment on both a local and global basis.  The course will focus on the foundation of air, soil, and water, the three main media when one discusses the environment, as well as multi-phase interactions.

Learning Objectives: Below is a list of specific learning objectives for Environmental Chemistry

1) Distinguish between the different “spheres” of the natural environment
2) Demonstrate knowledge of interactions between all states of matter (solid, liquid, gas)
3) Comprehend the importance of photochemistry to air pollution
4) Comprehend the chemical mechanisms causing the greenhouse effect and the uncertainty associated with resulting global climate change
5) Recognize the impact of aqueous phase chemistry, especially the importance of pH on the impact of water pollutants
6) Demonstrate knowledge of the chemistry and treatment of hazardous wastes
7) Comprehend the concept of industrial ecosystems and their application to future technological changes and innovations
8) Distinguish the measures of toxicological impacts of  pollutants

Lectures: Lectures will build from basic elements of air, soil, and water chemistry to enhance our understanding of problems associated with pollution from natural and anthropogenic substances.  Emphasis will be on chemical reactions, chemical equilibrium, transport, chemical degradation, and toxicological effects.  All phases will be considered; water pollution in the hydrosphere; stratospheric ozone depletion, urban smog in the atmosphere; and soil and subterranean pollution in the lithosphere.

Homework: Reading exercises from the text book and outside sources will be assigned. Students will be expected to find, read, and interpret articles found in the popular and scientific literature. Students will also learn how to use the internet to research topics associated with environmental pollution.  All students will also give one short (~10 minute) presentation on a topic of interest to the class during the semester.

Examinations: There will be three examinations, each worth 100 points. They will be based on the environmental chemistry of the hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere, respectively. Examination questions will be drawn from homework (out-of-class exercises, reading, and problems from the book) and concepts addressed in the lectures. Examinations may be partially or totally "take-home" in nature.

Grading:  Grades will be based on your participation in class, performance on homework assignments, examinations, and one oral presentation. Point scores will be added and a percent score calculated. The guaranteed grade cut-off of 90+% A, 80%-89% B, 70%-79% C, 55%-69% D will be used. +/- scores will be used as prescribed in the university catalog. The percentile scores may be adjusted upward to curve the percent scores if the examinations appear to be too difficult and if the class, as a whole, does not perform well on specific questions.

Withdrawals and Incompletes:  Withdrawals will follow the deadlines listed in the Spring 2005 schedule of classes.  Students are required to complete all courses for which they are registered by the end of the semester. In some cases, a student may be unable to complete all of the course work because of extenuating circumstances as defined in the schedule of classes.  However, you must notify me before the end of the semester if you want to be considered for an incomplete

Attendance: Attendance will not be taken. However, attendance is suggested for successful performance as lectures will not always follow the book and class participation is considered in grading.

Disabilities: Any student with a disability that requires accommodations must contact the instructor.  The disability must be documented by the Disability Resource Center. 

Tentative Lecture Schedule:

1/10-14: Environmental Chemistry, Cycles, The Anthrosphere        Ch 1-2
1/17: NO CLASS—Martin Luther King day
1/19-21: The Atmosphere and Chemistry                                       Ch 9
1/24-28: Particles                                                                          Ch 10
1/31-2/4: Inorganic and Organic Pollutants                                     Ch 11-12
2/7-11: Photochemistry and The Endangered Global Atmosphere   Ch 13-14
2/14-18: Aquatic Chemistry                                                           Ch 3
2/16: First Exam Due (Intro. And Air)
2/21: NO CLASS—President’s Day, class on Tuesday, 2/22
2/22-25: Redox Reactions and Phase Interactions                         Ch 4-5
2/28-3/4: Water Pollution and Treatment                                       Ch 7, 8
3/7-11:    The Geosphere and Soil Chemistry                                Ch 15-16
3/9: Second Exam Due (Water)
3/14-18: NO CLASS—Spring Break
3/21-25: Industrial Ecology                                                          Ch 17-18    
3/28-4/1: Hazardous Wastes                                                       Ch 19-20
4/4-8: Toxicology                                                                       Ch 22-23
4/11-15: Terrorism as an Environmental Threat                            Ch 28
4/18-25: Student Presentations and Discussions
5/2: Third Exam Due (Soil, Toxicology, and Presentations)



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