Southeast Missouri State University
Course Syllabus
Department of Chemistry
Course Number: CH450/EV450/CH650/EV650
Title of Course: Environmental Chemistry
I.
Revised: Fall 2009
Catalog Description and Credit Hours:
A study of the sources, reactions, transport, and fate of chemical entities in the air, water,
and soil environments. (3 credit hours). Two lecture hours and two lab hours.
II.
Prerequisites:
CH341 Organic Chemistry I and CH342 Organic Chemistry Lab I, or consent of the
instructor.
III.
Purposes or Objectives of the Course:
 To provide students with the basic theory of chemical and physical processes that occur in
the environment (air, water, and soil).
 To provide students with laboratory skills to measure chemicals in environmental
samples and understand chemical processes in environmental systems.
 To provide students with an understanding of the biogeochemical cycles of carbon,
nitrogen, and sulfur.
 To provide students with an appreciation for the scientific uncertainties of alternative
fuels.
IV.
Expectations of Students:


Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in the theories underlying
environmental processes on periodic quizzes and exams.
Students are expected to apply environmental chemistry theories in laboratory
experiments and communicate their results in written lab reports.
V.
Course Content or Outline
Lecture Topics
Chemistry of the atmosphere
Stratospheric ozone
Tropospheric smog
Acidic precipitation
Atmospheric aerosol particles
Urban and indoor atmospheres
The greenhouse effect and climate
Scientific debates associated with alternative fuels
Chemistry of natural water systems
Aqueous organic matter
Aqueous metals
Aqueous colloidal particles
Water treatment
Carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles
Chemistry of soils
Laboratory Experiments
Quantification methods used in environmental chemistry
Measurement of precipitation acidity
Effect of CO2 concentration on greenhouse warming
Removal of aqueous organic contaminants using charcoal filters
Measurement of Pb in plastic consumer products
Binding of metals to humic materials
Measurement of Ca, Mg, Na, and K in soil
VI.
Lecture
Hours
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
4
2
2
2
2
1
1
Lab
Hours
4
4
4
4
4
6
4
Textbook and/or Other Required Materials or Equipment
Textbook: Environmental Chemistry A Global Perspective, 2nd Ed., 2005, by Gary
vanLoon and Stephen Duffy
Laboratory Fee: Each student will be assessed a $10 lab fee to cover all the normal costs
for materials associated with the laboratory. Additional fees will be charged for any
equipment broken during the laboratory.
VII.
Basis for Student Evaluation
(CH450/EV450)
Quizzes
Journal article summaries
Labs
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
25%
10%
25%
20%
20%
(CH650/EV650)*
Quizzes
Journal article summaries*
Labs
Oral presentation*
Midterm Exam*
Final Exam*
20 %
10%
20%
10 %
20%
20%
* Students enrolled in CH650/EV650 will be required to give an oral presentation on an
environmental chemistry topic. They will be required to submit an additional journal
article summary and will have two additional questions (designed to demonstrate higher
order thinking) on the midterm and final exams.
The weight of evaluation criteria may vary at the discretion of the instructor and will be
indicated at the beginning of each course.
VIII. Grading Scale
(CH450/EV450)
90.0 – 100%
80.0 – 89.9%
70.0 – 79.9%
60.0 – 69.9%
<59.9%
A
B
C
D
F
(CH650/EV650)
90.0 – 100%
80.0 – 89.9%
70.0 – 79.9%
< 69.9%
A
B
C
F
The grading scale may vary according to each instructor and will be communicated at the
beginning of the course.
IX.
Academic Policy Statement:
Students will be expected to abide by the University Policy for Academic Honesty
regarding plagiarism and academic honesty. Refer to:
http://www6.semo.edu/judaffairs/code.html
X.
Student with Disabilities Statement:
If a student has a special need addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
and requires materials in an alternative format, please notify the instructor at the
beginning of the course. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate special needs.
XI.
Programs Serviced by This Course
B.S. in Environmental Science
B.S. in Secondary Education, Science Option
B.A. in Chemistry
B.S. in Chemistry
M.N.S in Applied Chemistry
M.N.S. in Biology (Environmental Biology option)
M.S. in Environmental Science