Instructor: Dr. Philip J. Silva, 024 Widtsoe, 78192, psilva@cc.usu.edu

Prerequisite:  Chem 3600 and 3610.

Text (required): Stanley E. Manahan Environmental Chemistry 7th Edition, Lewis Publishers 1999

Course Content: This course is an in-depth examination chemical fate and transport in the environment and the impact of such on both local and global issues. Lectures, demonstrations, and current literature are used so that science majors obtain a firm grasp of current issues associated with environmental chemistry, as well as the perspective of potential future issues.  The course will build on the foundation of air, soil, and water, the three main media when one discusses the environment.

Course Objectives: This is an advance chemistry elective that focuses on the interaction, transport, and transformation of chemicals in the environment and their impact on the physical and biological world.  Environmental chemistry is an applied field of chemistry where principles from the fundamental areas of organic, inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry all play a role.  Particular emphases will be placed on chemical processes in the environment, chemical cycles, and global issues of environmental concern that have arisen.  It is expected that subsequent to this course the student will be: (a) able to explain the major environmental issues due to chemistry in the media of air, soil, and water, (b) familiar with emerging issues of chemistry in the environment in addition to past “hot topics”, and (c) comfortable reading both popular and technical literature on environmental issues and critique what is read.

Grading:  There will be 2 midterms, worth 20% each, and a cumulative final worth 40%.  The other 20% will involve assignments to read and critique current articles on environmental chemistry chosen by the instructor.  There will be 3 articles handed out during the semester (one each on air, soil, and water).  The top two scores for each student will contribute to the final grade.  Homework problems from each chapter will be suggested as practice for the exams, but they will not be mandatory or count toward the final grade.

Student Disability: Students with a disability that requires accommodations must contact the instructor.  The Disability Resource Center must document the disability.

Tentative Lecture Schedule:

Wk 1: Introduction to Environmental Chemistry, Chemical Cycles        Ch 1-2
Wk 2: Chemical Interactions and Reactions in the Environment            Ch 4-5
Wk 3: Introduction to the Atmosphere                                                Ch 9,13
Wk 4: Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Pollutants                                Ch 10-11
Wk 5: Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Pollutants                                Ch 11-12
Wk 6: Aquatic Chemistry                                                                   Ch 3, 6
Wk 7: Water Pollution and Treatment                                                 Ch 7, 8
Wk 8: The Geosphere and Soil Chemistry                                          Ch 15-16
Wk 9: Soil Chemistry    and Mineral Resources                                  Ch 16-17
Wk 10: Hazardous Wastes                                                                Ch 18-20
Wk 11: Environmental Biochemistry                                                   Ch 21
Wk 12: Toxicology                                                                            Ch 22-23
Wk 13: Green Chemistry                                                                   Handouts
Wk 14: Pollutant Regulations, Local and Future Pollutants                  Handouts

This page was last updated:  May 7, 2003
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