Course Tittle: Environmental chemistry

Course Code: CHEM-431

Credit Hours: 03

Instructor:       Dr. Iram Hafiz

Email:              [email protected]

INTRODUCTION

Environmental Chemistry addresses today´s global challenges caused by increasing industrialization and overexploitation of natural resources. Contamination is not restricted to one compartment (air, soil, or water), but affects whole ecosystems and often has a considerable political dimension. The key to future sustainable resource management, current impact prediction, and prudent cleanup of past contaminated sites is a solid understanding of Environmental Chemistry.

DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES

The objective of this course is to comprehend the basics of environmental chemistry in a precise and compact way. The student will learn about the different levels of environment like atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere. earth water, pollutants, biological demand of oxygen, microbes in the environment, microbial transformation of carbon, sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen, microbial transformation of organic substances, carbon cycle of a typical fresh water lake, environmental geochemistry, environmental poisoning, pesticides in environment and microbial transformation of inorganic and organic substances. This course is an instrument of satisfying the student's intellectual curiosity. After studying this course, students will be able be able to understand the details of all basic aspects of environment.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

A student completing a major in Environmental Chemistry shall demonstrate the ability to:

• Learn the basic principles of environmental chemistry.
• They will be able to apply previous knowledge on analytical chemistry to environmental processes and samples.
• They will understand the interconnections between different sectors of the environment (soil, water, atmosphere) and the effect of human activities on the natural chemical processes.
• Synthesize and apply concepts from multiple sub-disciplines in environmental chemistry and toxicology.
• Use technical and analytical skills to quantify the level and effects of xenobiotics in environmental compartments (air, water, soil, biota).
• Effectively understand and convey scientific material from peer-reviewed sources.
• Conduct an individual research project within the university of other appropriate setting.

BOOKS & READINGS

1. Moore, J.W. & Moore, E.M. Environmental Chemistry, Academic Press,New York (2004).
2. Manahan, S. E. Environmental Chemistry, Brooks, California (2005).
3. Neil, P.O. Environmental Chemistry, Chapmann, London (2004).
4. Baird, C. Environmental Chemistry, Freeman, New York (2003).
5. Kumar, A. Environmental Chemistry, Wiley Eastern, New Delhi (2005).
6. Andrews and Reid, An Introduction to Environmental Chemistry, 2nd edition (2003), Blackwell Publishers. 
7. Banerji, S. K. Environmental Chemistry, Tata Publisher, Delhi (2006).
8. Hochachka, and Mommsen. Environmental and Ecological Biochemistry, (2008), Elsevier Science Publishers.
9. C. Baird, Environmental Chemistry, W. H. Freeman and Company, 1998.
10. D. W. Hawker, D. W. Conell, M. Warne, P. D. Vowles: Basic Concepts of Environmental Chemistry, Lewis Publishers, Inc..1997.

COURSE CONTENT

An introduction to the Human Environment, The litho, bio and hydrosphere, The nature and composition of natural waters, Water pollution, Chemistry of soil, Composition of the atmosphere, Oxides of carbon, sulphur and nitrogen in air pollution, Atmospheric Monitoring, Instrumental methods of environmental chemistry. Ozone demolition, Acid rain, Green House Effect

WEEKLY SCHEDULE / PLAN

RESEARCH PROJECT

Every possible effort would be made to teach very updated concept on each topic. Hot issues of debate, theories and controversial opinions of different researchers about each topic would be shared with the students.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Sessional: 20% (short project, assignment, presentation and class participation)

Mid exam: 30% 

Final exam: 50%

RULES AND REGULATIONS

Following are the rules and regulations that students have to abide by in my class

• Class attendance. (75% class attendance)
• Study of course materials as specified by the instructor
• Completion of given task on time