Course Number 21313 Section 001
Three credit hours, Lecture course, MWF 10:00 - 10:50 AM, Dobo Hall Room 205
Instructor: Dr. Joan D. Willey
Office Hours: TBA
Text: Aquatic Chemistry by Stumm and Morgan, 1996, THIRD EDITION
Grading: 3 tests @ 20%, final exam 20%, problem presentations in class 10%, course project 10% using a chemical speciation modeling program
From a chemical point of view, there is a lot going on in that beaker of water sitting out in the lab! This course will help you understand the whole solution, in addition to whatever aspect that is of particular interest to you. For example, dissolution of carbon dioxide gas into water, or photochemical production of hydrogen peroxide, are common processes that affect many of your solution properties, and sometimes analytical results, whether you are aware of them or not.
This course will cover many aspects of the chemistry of aqueous solutions, including acid-base and buffer concepts, gas solubility, results of carbon dioxide dissolution, metal complexation reactions, oxidation-reduction processes, and mineral solubility. These concepts will be applied to laboratory solutions and natural waters. The interests of the students in this class will be assessed and used to select specific topics to cover beyond the first few chapters. Quantitative problem solving will be emphasized.
The subject material in this course requires a lot of practice in working problems in order to gain proficiency and confidence. Homework problems will be assigned but not graded. Tests will be primarily solving problems similar to the homework problems. Some tests may be take-home depending upon the material. One week notice will be given before tests. Extra office hours will be scheduled before tests. The course project will be a chemical speciation study using a computer modeling program like Mineql+.
Examples of special topics covered: what is in pure water and how is pure water prepared in a laboratory, hydrogen peroxide chemistry in aqueous solution, atmosphere-water interactions, aerosols, metal ion speciation in aqueous solutions, redox chemistry of the analysis of mercury, redox chemistry of mercury and arsenic in the environment, precipitation and dissolution of minerals in aqueous solutions.
PowerPoint Note