Environmental Chemistry

Code:

Q3006

Acronym:

Q3006

Level:

300

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Chemistry

Instance: 2018/2019 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	http://moodle.up.pt/course/view.php?id=2046
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Chemistry

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:B	0	Official Study Plan	3	-	6	56	162
L:BQ	0	Official Study Plan	3	-	6	56	162
L:CC	1	Plano de estudos a partir de 2014	2	-	6	56	162
			3
L:F	2	Official Study Plan	2	-	6	56	162
			3
L:G	0	study plan from 2017/18	3	-	6	56	162
L:M	1	Official Study Plan	2	-	6	56	162
			3
L:Q	15	study plan from 2016/17	3	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The main goal is to provide scientific training in Environmental Chemistry:
application of chemical principles to the understanding of environmental phenomena, including the role of living organisms; understanding the processes that take place in the various environmental compartments and how human activity interacts with natural processes; application of chemical principles to the great challenge of humanity - the recovery, maintenance and improvement of environmental quality.
Other goals: improve the abilities to interpret texts, find information, synthesize and transmit knowledge in the field of Environmental Chemistry and acquire a global perspective of Environmental Chemistry.

Learning outcomes and competences

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Knowledge in various topics of General Chemistry, namely:
Stoichiometric calculations.
Behavior of ideal gases.
Chemical equilibrium and oxidation-reduction, acid-base and complexation reactions.
Thermodynamics.
Chemical Kinetics.

Program

THEORETICAL CLASSES

1 - GENERAL INTRODUCTION 

1.1 - Environment Science, Technology and Chemistry.
1.2 - Sustainable development.
1.3 - Green Chemistry.

2 - WATER CHEMISTRY  

2.1 - The Chemical Water Cycle.  Quality and quantity of water in the environment. The properties of water, a unique substance. The Characteristics of Water Bodies. Basic aspects of aquatic chemistry: Gases in water. Acidity of water and solubility of carbon dioxide in water. Alkalinity of water. Calcium and other metals in water. Complexation and chelation.
2.2 - Oxidation-Reduction. The concept of pE and its limits in water. pE values in natural water systems. pE-pH diagrams. Corrosion.
2.3 - Phase interactions. Chemical interactions involving solids, gases and water. Formation and relevance of sediments. Solubility. Nature of colloidal particles. Colloidal properties of clays. Aggregation of particles. Adsorption and absorption at solids surface. Ion exchange on the surface of sediments.

3 - WATER POLLUTION 

3.1 - Nature and types of pollutants of the Aquatic Environment. Metals and semi-metals as pollutants. Organometallic species. Inorganic species. Algae nutrients and eutrofization. Acidity, alkalinity and salinity. Oxygen, oxidizing and reducing agents. Organic Pollutants. Pesticides. Polychlorinated biphenyls. Radionuclides in aquatic environment.
3.2 - Water treatment. Municipal water treatment. Water treatment for industrial use. Sewage treatment. Industrial wastewater treatment. Solids removal. Removal of dissolved organic species, calcium, other metallic cations, and other dissolved inorganic species. Sludge. Disinfection of water. Procedures for purification of natural waters. Recycling and reuse of water.

4 - THE ATMOSPHERE AND CHEMISTRY OF ATMOSPHERE 

4.1 - Relevance and characteristics of the Earth's atmosphere. Physical characteristics. Energy Transfer. The stratospheric ozone layer and its destruction. Mass transfer, weather and climate. Temperature inversion and air pollution. Global climate and microclimates. Greenhouse effect. Chemical and photochemical reactions. Acid-base reactions.
4.2 - Chemistry of the Stratosphere. Physics and Chemistry of the ozone layer. The importance of the stratospheric ozone layer. Natural methods of creation and destruction of ozone in the stratosphere. Depletion of the ozone layer. Catalytic processes of ozone depletion. 
4.3 - Troposphere chemistry. Chemistry of air pollution at ground level. Photochemical smog. Particles in the Atmosphere. Processes for reducing particulate emissions. Acid rain and its implications.
4.4 - Energy and climate change. The greenhouse effect. Absorption IR spectroscopy. Main greenhouse gases. Global warming.
4.5 - Organic compounds in the atmosphere. Main organic pollutants: dioxins, furans, PCB's and PAH's.
4.6 - Indoor atmospheres. Indoor air quality.

PRACTICAL CLASSES

1 - PROBLEM SOLVING

1.1. Chemical equilibrium problems solving on aquatic media typical species, including atmosphere-water column and water column-sediment interfaces. Construction and interpretation of distribution diagrams of chemical species as a function of pH.
1.2. Oxidation-reduction phenomena in aquatic medium - concepts and applications, including building and interpretation of pE/pH distribution diagrams.

2 – LABORATORY WORKS
Project to carry out in group aiming to characterize in the laboratory important aspects of environmental samples.

Mandatory literature

Stanley E. Manahan; Environmental Chemistry, CRC Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-1420059205
Baird Colin; Environmental chemistry. ISBN: 0-7167-3153-3
vanLoon Gary W.; Environmental chemistry. ISBN: 0-19-856440-6

Complementary Bibliography

Radojevic Miroslav; Practical environmental analysis. ISBN: 0-85404-594-5
Colin Baird and Michael Cann; Environmental Chemistry, W. H. Freeman, 2008. ISBN: 978-1429201469

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical classes are intended to present and discuss the relevant concepts, involving the participation of the students. These concepts will then be used for solving problems.
Presentation of synthesis papers on topics in environmental chemistry.
Carrying out practical laboratory work of environmental interest.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	20,00
Teste	40,00
Trabalho escrito	20,00
Trabalho laboratorial	20,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	14,00
Estudo autónomo	42,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Trabalho escrito	25,00
Trabalho laboratorial	25,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Mandatory attendance in practical classes. The student can not miss more than 25% of the expected number of practical classes (3 absences). Participation in the lectures will also be valued in the classroom participation component.

Calculation formula of final grade

A - Tests: 40%
B - Written work: 20% 
C - Laboratory work: 20% 
D - Classroom  Participation: 20%

Failure to perform a test or the writen work implies the assignment of zero values to these elements of evaluation.

Final grade: A×0,4 + (B+C+D)×0,2

Minimum acceptable classification in tests: 8 points in a scale of 20.
These criteria apply to first exam season; in the appeal the tests grade will be replaced by the grade of the appeal exam.

Classification improvement

Final score improvement: Written exam. The final score is calculated according to the evaluation criterion of the academic year in which the student was approved.