CHEM 496          2 Credit Hours

Environmental Chemistry

This information is for second semester 2017/2018 academic year

Teacher responsible

Augustine Donkor

Office: 326 Frank Torto Building

Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Teaching Assistants: Mr. Isaac Kyere and Miss. Priscilla Oti-Akenten

Availability

This course is available open to all visiting students but only as a second semester course.

Course content

The field of environmental science is motivated by the desire to identify, understand, and solve existing environmental problems so that future problems can be avoided. This course is an introduction to “Environmental Chemistry”, with emphasis on both regional and global environmental issues. The course will focus on the study of sources, reactions, transport, effects, and fates of chemical species in atmosphere, water, soil and biosphere; and the effect of technology thereon. The course is divided into 4 areas of concern: (i) Atmospheric Chemistry (ii) Water Chemistry and Pollution, (iii) Toxic Chemicals and the Environment and (iv) Soil Chemistry and Waste Disposal. The main objective of the course is to provide students with the requisite scientific basis and ability to analyze and solve environmental problems.

Teaching

This will be in the form of lectures, demonstrations, and discussions. Student participation is very important for your final scores.

Formative coursework

There will be at least one major interim assessment (IA) and a final exam at the end of the semester. Students are expected to undertake presentations which will contribute to their final grades. The IA will be on the materials covered during lectures. Success in this course depends on reading widely on the topics to be treated, and is highly recommended.

Indicative Reading

VanLoon, G.W. and S.J. Duffy. 2011. Environmental Chemistry: A Global Perspective. Third Edition. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

Manahan, E. Stanley (2012). Environmental Chemistry, Boca Raton, Fl., USA. Lewis Publishers, CRC Press.

Spiro. T.G. and Stigliani W.M. 1996. Chemistry of the Environment, Prentice-Hall. Inc. New Jersey

Hities, R.H. (2007), Elements of Environmental Chemistry, John Wiley & Sons, INC., New York

Bard, C., Cann, M. (2008), Environmental Chemistry (4^th Edition), W.H .Freeman and Company

Assessment and Grading

E.g.      Quizzes                                                                       10 %

Two (2)     Assessments                                               20 %

Presentation and Class Participation                           10 %

Final Exam                                                                  60 %

Etc.

Grading Scale: