Syllabus/CHEM 4710 & 5710; EVSC 6010/Environmental Chemistry

Fall, 2003, MWF, 13:00-13:50, Room 317, Foster Hall

Instructor

Hong Zhang

Room 221, Foster Hall; 931-372 6325; hzhang@tntech.edu; http://iweb.tntech.edu/hzhang/

Prerequisites

CHEM 2110, 3010 or 3410, 3510, or consent of instructor

Textbook

Environmental Chemistry, 7^th Ed., Stanley E. Manahan, Lewis Publishers, 2000, ISBN: 1-56670-492-8

Reference books on reserve in the library

Aquatic Chemistry, W. Stumm and J.J. Morgan

Environmental Soil Chemistry, D.L. Sparks

Chemistry of Atmospheres, R.P. Wayne

Gaia, A New Look at Life and Earth, J.E. Lovelock

The Natural Selection of the Chemical Elements, R.J.P. Williams and J.J.R. Frausto da Silva

Course grading

Two in-class open-book exams: 60% (30%×2)

Four homework sets done in pair: 20% (5%×4)

One student project (abstract, webpage, oral presentation) in team: 20%

Case study paper required for CHEM 5710 credit

Webpage ready for publication is required for CHEM 6010 credit

Scale: A: 90-100; B: 80-89; C: 70-79; D: 60-69; F: 0-59

Course description and design

Environmental chemistry is a branch of chemistry devoted to characterization and understanding of the chemical compositions, structures, processes, and behaviors of the environment in general, the earth surface system in particular, in its natural and perturbed states, and transport, transformation, fate, and cycling of natural chemical substances as well as pollutants within and between the compartments of the earth surface system, on various spatial and temporal scales. In a broader sense with applications in mind, environmental chemistry is also cross-linked to environmental toxicology, environmental geology, environmental biology, environmental remediation and waste treatment, environmental risk assessment, environmental medical sciences, and environmental social sciences. Generally speaking, environmental chemistry may consist of three areas: The chemistry of the natural environment, the chemistry of the polluted/disturbed environment, and the chemistry of environmental treatment and remediation.  

This course is designed to introduce to the students our current knowledge and understanding, as well as the fundamental concepts and principles, of environmental chemistry and their applications. Through this course, the students will build a molecular view of our environment in general, the earth surface system in particular, and its processes and behaviors, both in natural and perturbed states, on various spatial and temporal scales; they will also learn the meaning of the molecules and elements in the nature. The teaching and learning activities involve class lectures (40), review sessions (2), out-class reference books (5) reading, student project done in team, homework sets (4) in pair, and in-class open-book exams (2). 

If anyone may have special needs, please contact the instructor, and your needs will be taken care of appropriately.*

CHEM 4710/5710/6010 Environmental Chemistry Teaching Activity Schedule^#

Fall, 2003

 ^#The schedule may be subject to some changes in the course of teaching.

*Students with a disability requiring accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) (location: Roaden University Center, Room 112, phone: 372-6119). An Accommodation Request (AR) should be completed as soon as possible, preferably by the end of the first week of the course.

CHEM 5710 Environmental Chemistry

Fall, 2003

Instructor

Hong Zhang

Room 221, Foster Hall; 931-372 6325; hzhang@tntech.edu; http://iweb.tntech.edu/hzhang/

Special Requirement for Graduate Students

In addition to the regular requirements for this course, the graduate students taking this course as CHEM 5710 are required to complete a short review paper of 4-5 pages on a topic selected with appropriate literature citation. The paper is due on the day of the corresponding presentation.

The graduate students are required to complete the student project individually.

  CHEM 6010 Environmental Chemistry

Fall, 2003

Instructor

Hong Zhang

Room 221, Foster Hall; 931-372 6325; hzhang@tntech.edu; http://iweb.tntech.edu/hzhang/

Special Requirement for Graduate Students

In addition to the regular requirements for this course, the graduate students taking this course as CHEM 6010 are required to complete a review paper of 4-5 pages on a topic selected with appropriate literature citation. The paper is due on the day of the corresponding presentation.

The graduate students are required to complete a webpage on the selected topic that is ready for publication in an appropriate webpage design format and file. If a graduate student already has a personal webpage, the project webpage should be published on the personal page before the presentation.

In addition to the oral presentation, the graduate students are also required to prepare a poster for the presentation.

The graduate students are required to complete the student project individually.