Syllabus/CHEM 4720 & 5720/Advanced Environmental Chemistry

Spring, 2004

Lecture: MW, 2:00-2:50PM, Rm. 220, FH

Lab: W, 3:00-5:50PM, Rm. 331, FH

Instructor

Hong Zhang

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

Prerequisites

CHEM 4710/5710, or consent of instructor

Textbook

Biogeochemistry, An Analysis of Global Change (BAGC), 2nd. Ed., William H. Schlesinger, Academic Press, 1997, ISBN: 0-12-625155-X

Practical Environmental Analysis (PEA), Miroslav Radojevic and Vladimir N. Bashkin, Royal Society of Chemistry, 1999, ISBN: 0-85404-594-5  

Course Grading

Take-home exams (2): 35%

Student project: 30%

Lab: 35%

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

Course Description

The design of this course is two-fold. First, we will introduce to the students our current knowledge and understanding, as well as the fundamental concepts and principles, of global biogeochemistry and their applications. A major goal is to attempt to make the connection between the environmental chemistry at the molecular and elemental level as discussed in CHEM 4710/5710 and the biogeochemistry of the Earth on a global scale. Second, we will introduce to the students the basic principles and methods of environmental analysis with its practical applications. This will be enhanced by an accompanying lab (see the separate lab syllabus for details). The teaching and learning activities involve class lectures, take-home exams, student project, and a lab series.

The Monday lecture period will be devoted to in-class discussion of global biogeochemistry, and the Wednesday lecture period will be used to cover the environmental analysis followed by the lab session.    

Graduate students taking this course as CHEM 5720 will have extra requirements to earn the credits. They will need to do some more problems in the exams and complete some special requirements for their project.

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

*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 4720/5720-Spring 2004/Advanced Environmental Chemistry Lecture Schedule (1/15/04)*

Week

Week #

M

W

Jan 12

1

 

Course introduction

Jan 19

2

Martin Luther King Day

No class

Introduction to environmental analysis                     Chapter 1 (PEA)

Jan 26

3

Biogeochemical cycles as fundamental constructs for studying Earth system and global change

 

Chapters 1 and 2 (BAGC)

Environmental sampling and sample treatment

 

 

                                   Chapter 1

Feb 2

4

Co-evolution of Earth & Biosphere

 

 

Chapters 1 and 2

Analytical methods, standardization and calibration, standard and reference materials

                                   Chapter 1

Feb 9

5

Global water cycle

 

Chapters 7, 8, 9, and 10

Analytical data and environmental chemometrics

                                   Chapter 1

Feb 16

6

Global C cycle

 

Chapters 5, 6, and 11

Rain water analysis

 

                                   Chapter 2

Feb 23

7

Global N cycle

 

Chapters 6 and 12

Water analysis

 

                                   Chapter 4

March 1

8

Global P cycle

 

Chapters 6 and 12

Water analysis

 

                                   Chapter 4

March 8

9

Global S cycle

 

Chapters 6 and 13

First take-home exam (due March 31)

Water analysis

 

 

                                   Chapter 4

March 15

10

Spring break

No class

Spring break

No class

March 22

11

Global trace metal cycle

 

Chapter 6 and handout

Air analysis

 

                                   Chapter 3

March 29

12

Acid-base and redox balances of the Earth (handout)

Air analysis

                                   Chapter 3

April 5

13

Coupling of biogeochemical cycles and climate: Forcings, feedbacks, and responses (handout)

Soil and solid analysis

                                   Chapter 5

April 12

14

Guest lecture: Environmental radiochemistry by Dr. Ensor

Soil and solid analysis

                                   Chapter 5

April 19

15

Modeling biogeochemical cycles-I

(handout)

Plant analysis

                                   Chapter 6

April 26

16

Modeling biogeochemical cycles-II

(handout)

Environmental modeling

                                   Handout

May 3

17

Guest lecture: Environmental law by Dr. Harwood

Second take-home exam (due May 11)

Student project presentation

 

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

CHEM 4720/5720-Spring 2004/Advanced Environmental Chemistry Lab Schedule*

(Jan 15, 2004)

Week

Week #

Lab

Jan 14

1

 

 

Jan 21

2

No lab

 

Jan 28

3

Environmental photochemistry-Fe(III)-Fe(II)

 

Feb 4

4

Environmental photochemistry-Fe(III)-Organic Acids

 

Feb 11

5

Chemolimnology of Cane Creek Lake

 

Feb 18

6

Spring Creek watershed field trip

 

Feb 25

7

Analysis of water sample of Spring Creek

 

March 3

8

Analysis of water sample of Spring Creek

 

March 10

9

Soil pH

 

March 17

10

Spring break

No lab

 

March 24

11

Soil redox

 

March 31

12

Soil redox

 

April 7

13

Student project

 

April 14

14

Student project

 

April 21

15

Student project

 

April 28

16

Environmental modeling

 

May 3

17

Student project presentation

 

*The schedule may be subject to some changes in the course of teaching. Handouts for each of the labs will be provided in advance.