AMCE522 Advanced Environmental Chemistry

TEXTBOOK

GRADING

COURSE OUTLINE

LECTURE NOTES
Stratospheric Chemistry-The Ozone Layer
Fundamentals of Tropospheric Chemistry

Ground-level Outdoor Air Pollution

Particles in the troposphere

Air Sampling and Monitoring

The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

Fundamentals f Aqueous Chemistry

Water Pollution and treatment

Term Paper Topics

Fall 2008, Th (6:30-9:20), Venue: Rm2463 (lift25/26)

Instructor: Dr. Jianzhen YU

Rm 4528, Tel: 2358-7389, Email: chjianyu@ust.hk

Office hour: walk-in, or by appointment.

Introduction

In the past decades, massive amounts of chemicals have given humankind an unprecedented standard of living and quality of life. However, this has also exacted a price of environmental degradation. If individuals are to make a contribution to improvement of environmental quality, they need to have some knowledge of environmental chemistry. This course is about environmental issues and the chemistry behind them. It aims to apply knowledge of chemistry to have in-depth understanding of environmental issues. The goal is to provide you the knowledge of how to do a chemist’s share in improving environmental quality.

Reference books

1. “Environmental Chemistry”, Colin Baird and Michael Cann, W. H. Freeman and Company, 2005.

2. "Environmental Chemistry", Stanley E. Manahan, Lewis Publisher, 2000.

3. "Chemistry of the Upper and Lower Atmosphere", B. J. Finlayson-Pitts and J. N. Pitts,2000 (available from Library Reserve folder for chem541).

Grading

• Student lectures: Presentation + Write-up: 20%

  • The whole class will be divided into groups, with two students in each group. Each group is formed on a voluntary basis. Each group is assigned (through drawing lots) a topic and its respective presentation date. Group members work together to prepare and make a presentation of 25 min while each member is required to write his/her own report on the topic. The report needs to be at least 15 pages long in double space (excluding the cover page).

  • Preparation of the oral presentation should be a group effort while delivery of the oral presentation is to be made by one representative from the group.

  • List of topics

  • Written reports are due at 6 pm on 6 December 2008 (Saturday). Email submission of a soft copy is sufficient.

• Mid-term: 40% (23 October, 7:00-9:00 pm, Rm3007, lift 3)
• Final Exam: 40%   (December 11, 6:30-9:00 pm, LTC)

Homework policy

You are NOT required to submit assignments, but I may use some of homework problems in exams. 

Course Outline

• Stratospheric Chemistry: The Ozone layer
• Tropospheric Chemistry
• Ground level pollution- outdoors and indoors
• Particles in the troposphere
• Atmospheric sampling and monitoring
• The greenhouse effect and global warming
• Fundamentals of aquatic chemistry
• Water pollution and purification
• Toxic organic chemicals
• Toxic heavy metals
• Radioactivity, Radon, and Nuclear Energy

Lecture notes, handouts and supplementary materials

• Lecture notes will be posted one day before each lecture at http://teaching.ust.hk/~amce522/.
• Handouts will be posted on the web or distributed in class.

• Supplementary reading materials are for those who are interested in knowing more on a specific topic. You are not required to read them unless you are interested.