Chemistry 106, Environmental Chemistry, Spring 2008

Code: VLD stands for the course text, G. W. van Loon and S. J. Duffy, Environmental Chemistry: A Global Perspective, 2nd. ed. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2005.

Assignments per Class Period

• Introduction and an Overview of the Earth (22 Jan.)
• reading:VLD, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, pp. 21-24
• homework: Prepare to discuss the Fermi Question at the end of Chapter 1
• Physical Structure of the Atmosphere (24 Jan.)
• reading: VLD, 24-27
• homework: Lecture 2 Problem Set
• Chemistry of the "Clean" Atmosphere (29 Jan.)
• reading: VLD, 197-201 from Chapter 9.
• homework: Lecture 3 Problem Set
• Hydrology: Sources and Cycling of Water (31 Jan.)
• reading: VLD, pp. 27-33. Also review your General Chemistry text, e.g. Oxtoby.
• homework: Lecture 4 Problem Set
• The following WWW sites contain discussions that supplement the reading.
• discussion of ground water from the Washington State Dept. of Ecology
• detailed discussion of ground water from USGS Circular 1139
• The following sources are useful in answering Problem 4, Hydrology Problem Set
• Univ. of Michigan data on domestic water consumption
• USGS data on domestic water consumption
• USGS regional data on supply and demand
• USGS graphical display of water use by sector of the economy
• USGS Web page with links to other presentations of water use by sectors of the economy
• National Parks Service Map of Watersheds in the Los Angeles Area
• Map of San Gabriel Watershed in the Angeles National Forest
• Review of Kinetics and Thermodynamics for Gas-Phase Reactions (5 Feb.)
  Also, an introduction to photochemistry.
• reading: VLD, Chapter 3, pp. 42-48
• homework: Lecture 5 Problem Set
• Radiation Chemistry: Ozone Formation via Photolysis (7 Feb.)
• reading: VLD, Chapter 3, pp.48-55
• homework: Lecture 6 Problem Set
• Stratospheric Ozone Cycles: HO_x, NO_x, and ClO_x  (12 Feb.)
• reading: VLD, Chapter 4, pp. 56-68
• homework: Lecture 7 Problem Set
• Effect of Chlorofluorocarbons on Stratospheric Ozone (14 Feb.)
• reading: VLD,  Chapter 4, pp. 71-78
• homework: Lecture 8 Problem Set
• Chemistry in the troposphere (19 Feb.)
  (announced quiz covering material discussed on 22 Jan. through 14 Feb.)
• reading: VLD, Chapter 4, pp 78-97
• homework: Lecture 9 Problem Set
• Photochemical smog, free radicals, organics in the atmosphere (21 Feb.)
• reading: VLD,   Chapter 5
• homework: Lecture 10 Problem Set
• Smog remediation and acid rain  (26 Feb.)
• reading: VLD, Chapter 6
• homework: Lecture 11 Problem Set
• Aerosols and particulate matter in the atmosphere (28 Feb.)
• reading: VLD,  Ch. 8, pp. 164-178
• homework: Lecture 12 Problem Set
• Global Climate Change: The Evidence (4 Mar.)
• reading: VLD, Ch. 8, pp. pp 179-193
• Article in Jan. 26, 2007 Issue of Science Magazine Relating Biogenic Dimethylsulfide Levels to Solar Radiation Dose
• Article in Feb. 2007 Issue of Scientific American on Methane Production by Plants
• http://www.architecture2030.org/current_situation/coastal_impact.html
• homework: Lecture 13 Problem Set
• Global Climate Change: Remedies (6 Mar.)
• reading: VLD, Chapter 9, pp. 197-201 and 208-210
• Article in Jan. 2007 Issue of Scientific American on Ethanol
• IPCC Report on the Physical Basis for Climate Change
• National Geographic Article on Biofuels
• homework: Lecture 14 Problem Set
• Chemical Constituents of Natural Waters (11 Mar.)
  (announced quiz covering material discussed on 14 Feb. through 6 Mar.)
• reading: VLD, 11.1 and pp. 201-207, 321-326
• homework: Lecture 15 Problem Set
• Properties of Water (13 Mar.)
• reading: VLD,  pp.241-244
• homework: Lecture 16 Problem Set
• Equilibrium Constants Relevant to Carbonic Acid (25 Mar.)
• reading: VLD, 10.1.1, 11.2
• homework: Lecture 17 Problem Set
• Acid-Base Equilibrium of Carbonic Acid (27 Mar.)
• reading: VLD,  pp. 219-233;
  For additional reading, consult Spiro, pp. 286-292; Schwedt, pp. 87-88.
• homework: Lecture 18 Problem Set
• Acid-base Chemistry in Water in Limestone (1 Apr.)
• reading: VLD,  Chapter 10, pp. 219-224
• For additional reading, consult Manahan, pp. 99-113.
• homework: Lecture 19 Problem Set
• Electrochemistry and the Definition of pE (3 Apr.)
  (announced quiz covering the material discussed on 11 March through 1 April)
• reading: VLD, Chapter 10, pp. 225-233
• For additional reading, consult Manahan, pp. 113-117.
• homework: Lecture 20 Problem: VLD, Chapter 10, Problem 3
• pE/pH Phase Diagrams (8 Apr.)
• reading: VLD, Ch. 13, pp. 258-267
  Consider also the following resources.
• C. Mills, An Introduction to Acid rock Drainage
• Manahan, pp. 113-117 (pE/pH diagram for iron)
• homework: Lecture 21 Problem: VLD, Chapter 10, Problem 8
• Iron in the Environment (10 Apr.)
• reading: VLD, Chapter 12 , sections13.2.3, 13.4, 14.5, and pp. 334-341 of Chapter 15
• additional links cited in the lecture
• role of soil in detoxification
• source of toxicity data on TCE
  Click on the Search button and enter the name of your compound in the box on the search page.
• enzymatic pathways for removal of toxic substances from the environment
• homework: Lecture 22 Problem
• Organic Compounds in the Water and Soil: Trichloroethylene (15 Apr.)
• reading: VLD, 15.1 & 15.2
• homework: Lecture 23 Problem Set (last homework assignment)
• Cycling of Carbon in the Environment (17 Apr.)
  (announced quiz covering the material discussed on 3 April through 15 April)
• reading: VLD, Chapter 17 and Chapter 18 (sections 18.1, 18.2, 18.3)
  Paul McDaniel of the University of Idaho-Moscow has produced an excellent Web site on soil types.
• Properties of the 12 Soil Orders
• homework: no assignment
• Overview of the Lithosphere  (22 Apr.)
• reading: VLD,  pp. 112-113 & and 329-333
• Soil Minerals and the Consequences of Acid Rain (24 Apr.)
• reading: VLD, 
• homework: no assignment
• Student Presentations on the Cycling of Elements (29 Apr. - 6 May)
  No reading or homework assignments
• mercury and nitrogen (29 Apr.)
• phosphorus and selenium (1 May)
• sulfur (6 May)

last updated, 14 January 2008, CJT