Experimental Discovery Core Science
ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
CCEX-SHU 203,
Spring 2021
Tuesday and Thursday
11:15 – 12:30
Room: 102
My zoom id: 6857105527
Dr.
Amrita Pal (Assistant Professor)
Office: 1114-2
E-mail: pa76@nyu.edu
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1. Course Description
This course explores the scientific foundations of current energy and environmental issues and their
implications for public policy. The syllabus is divided into sections, each examining a current
environmental theme in depth. The first sections investigate the composition of the atmosphere and
the chemical processes that cause air pollution, ozone depletion, and global warming. Moving to the
study of water, the course explores the properties of this unique solvent and the effect of various
aqueous pollutants. The course also includes an investigation of energy from chemical reactions, our
continuing reliance on fossil fuels, and the potential of alternative energy sources. The laboratory
experiments are closely integrated with the lecture topics and provide hands-on explorations of
central course themes. Throughout the course we also will examine how scientific studies of the
environment are intimately connected with political, economic and policy concerns.
2. Course Learning Objectives
Your learning objectives for the course:
 Acquire knowledge of foundational science concepts, processes, and terminology
needed to understand critical issues related to energy and the environment.
 Develop skills in problem solving and quantitative reasoning.
 Understand the methods of scientific investigation.
 Evaluate energy and environmental issues, including those often reported in the media.
 Examine the economic, societal, and policy aspects of energy and environmental issues.
 Hone analytical and critical thinking skills needed to evaluate evidence and make
informed decisions about complex energy and environmental issues.
3. Course Materials
a) There is one book required for this course, available in the NYU Bookstore:
Catherine H. Middlecamp et al., Chemistry in Context: Applying Chemistry to Society, 10th Edition
(ISBN-13: 9781260570816). It is recommended that you purchase the electronic version which is available at
NYU bookstore.
b) Laboratory Manual for Energy and the Environment: this will be made available in the course
page on NYU Classes. The manuals will be uploaded one chapter at a time. Hard copies of the lab
manuals will also be provided during the lab classes.
c) You will be provided with safety glasses and lab coats at the laboratory. Many of the laboratory
sessions require you to use chemicals that are potentially damaging to your eyes, so SAFETY
GLASSES ARE ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED DURING THESE LABS.
d) It is compulsory for you to wear face masks in the lab during all times. Also note that for your safety,
each laboratory will be sterilized by UV lights weekly.
e) Lecture classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Rm. 102 (Time: 11.15 am -12.30
noon). It is compulsory for all students to wear masks in the lecture classes, at all times. Lectures
will be telecast via zoom at the same time, i.e. synchronously, for the remote students. My zoom
id is: https://nyu.zoom.us/j/6857105527;
f) There will be one lab session per week. Due to a cap of 24 students per lab, the same lab will be
held over three sessions, two each on Fridays held simultaneously (10.00-12.30) and one on
Monday (10 am -12.30 pm). You have registered to either of these 3 sessions. You cannot switch
between sessions. For students outside of China/Shanghai and attending the semester remotely,
virtual lab and additional explanatory slides will be posted with requirement of tasks and online
assignment submissions.
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4. Electronic Resources
All course materials (announcements, homework instructions, additional readings, etc.) will be posted
on NYU Classes under Energy and Environment https://newclasses.nyu.edu/.
5. Lecture and Laboratory Schedule
The readings listed in this schedule are based on Chemistry in Context, 10th Edition. You will also be
provided with additional readings, videos, and websites throughout the semester (uploaded in the
NYUClasses) that will help you to further explore the environmental topics in the course syllabus.
Laboratory dates and topics are in italics.
Date
Lecture Topic
(Lecture classroom 102)
1
Mon Jan 25
Tue Jan 26
2
3
4
Thu Jan 28
Fri Jan 29
Mon Feb 01
Monday Lab Group (Rm 703)
Course Introduction
THE AIR WE BREATHE
The Air We Breathe
Lab Groups 1 and 2
Monday Lab Group (Rm 703)
5
6
7
Tue Feb 02
Thu Feb 04
Fri Feb 05
Chemical Principles
Air Pollution
Friday Lab Groups (Lab 703, 704)
8
9
Mon Feb 08
Tue Feb 09
10
11
12
13
14
15
Mon Feb 22
Tue Feb 23
Thu Feb 25
Fri Feb 26
Mon Mar 1
Tue Mar 2
16
17
18
19
20
Thu Mar 4
Fri Mar 5
Mon Mar 8
Tue Mar 9
Thu Mar 11
21
22
23
Fri Mar 12
Mon Mar 15
Tue Mar 16
24
25
Thu Mar 18
Fri Mar 19
Reading
Laboratory Sessions at
rooms 703/704
(homework assignment)
No lab during first week
Chapter 2
(Homework 1)
No lab during first week
Lab safety training, Lab
safety quiz
(Submit homework 1)
(Homework 2)
Lab safety training, Lab
safety quiz
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
THE OZONE LAYER
Monday Lab Group (Rm 703)
Lab 1: Math Review
Ozone Introduction-atomic structure
Chapter 3
(Submit homework 2)
11th-19th February, Chinese New Year/Spring Festival Holidays
Monday Lab Group (Rm 703)
Lab 2: Properties of Air
Molecules and Lewis structure
Chapter 3
Light and the Ozone Layer
Chapter 3
(Homework 3)
Friday Lab Groups (Lab 703, 704)
Lab 1: Math Review
Monday Lab Group (Rm 703)
Lab 3: Properties of Light
Ozone Depletion-Science and Policy
Chapter 3
(Submit homework 3)
CLIMATE CHANGE
Earth’s Climate & Greenhouse Gases-I
Chapter 4
(Homework 4)
Friday Lab Groups (Lab 703, 704)
Lab 2: Properties of Air
Monday Lab Group (Rm 703)
Lab 4: Sunscreens
Earth’s Climate & Greenhouse Gases-I
Chapter 4
(Submit homework 4)
Carbon Emissions & Carbon
Chapter 4
(Homework 5)
Footprint-I
Friday Lab Groups (Lab 703, 704)
Lab 3: Properties of Light
Monday Lab Group (Rm 703)
Lab 5: Molecular Vibrations
Carbon Emissions & Carbon
(Submit homework 5)
Footprint-II & Midterm 1 Review
Chapters 2, 3
Midterm 1 (11.15 - 12.30)
Friday Lab Groups (Lab 703, 704)
Lab 4: Sunscreens
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26
27
Mon Mar 22
Tue Mar 23
28
29
30
31
32
33
Thu Mar 25
Fri Mar 26
Mon Mar 29
Tue Mar 30
Thu Apr 1
Fri Apr 2
34
Thu Apr 8
35
36
37
Fri Apr 9
Mon Apr 12
Tue Apr 13
38
39
40
41
42
43
Thu Apr 15
Fri Apr 16
Mon Apr 19
Tue Apr 20
Thu Apr 22
Fri Apr 23
Sun Apr 25
44
45
46
Mon Apr 26
Tue Apr 27
Thu Apr 29
47
Fri Apr 30
48
49
50
Tue May 4
Thu May 6
Fri May 7
51
52
53
54
Mon May 10
Tue May 11
Thu May 13
Fri May 14
Mon May 17
Tue May 18
55
56
Thu May 20
Monday Lab Group (Rm 703)
Lab6: Chemical Reactions
Midterm 1 discussion and finishing
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
WATER FOR LIFE
Water and Ions
Chapter 5
(Homework 6)
Friday Lab Groups (Lab 703, 704)
Lab 5: Molecular Vibrations
Monday Lab Group (Rm 704)
Lab 7: Aqueous ions
Measuring Concentration
Chapter 5
(Submit homework 6)
Water Quality – Science and Policy
Chapter 5
(Homework 7)
Friday Lab Groups (Lab 703, 704)
Lab6: Chemical Reactions
5th-7th April, Spring Recess and Holidays
ENERGY FROM COMBUSTION
What is Energy & Energy from
Chapter 6
Combustion
Friday Lab Groups (Lab 703, 704)
Lab 7: Aqueous ions
Monday Lab Group (Rm 703)
Lab 8: Water hardness
Fossil Fuels and Biofuels
Chapter 6
(Submit homework 7)
ENERGY FROM ELECTRON
TRANSFER
Electron Transfer Reactions
Chapter 8
(Homework 8)
Friday Lab Groups (Lab 703, 704)
Lab 8: Water hardness
Monday Lab Group (Rm 703)
Lab 9: Building Batteries
Fuel Cells and Electrolytic Cells
Chapter 8
(Submit homework 8)
Midterm 2 Review
(Homework 9)
Friday Lab Groups (Lab 703, 704)
Lab 9: Building Batteries
Legislative day following Monday routine. We may have a makeup review class; no lab
(To decide later)
Monday Lab Group (Rm 703)
Lab 10: Solar & PV Cells
Chapters 4, 5, 6
(Submit homework 9)
Midterm 2 (11.15 - 12.30)
Discussion of Midterm 2 and finishing
Chapter 8
(Homework 10)
Chapter 8
Friday Lab Groups (Lab 703, 704)
Lab 10: Solar & PV Cells
3rd May, Monday, Holiday
Solar Cells
Chapter 7
(Submit homework 10)
Solar Energy - Science and Policy
Chapter 7
Lab 10 is final lab, no lab class this day; We may have a make-up class (To be decided)
THE FIRES OF NUCLEAR
FISSION
Lab 10 is final lab, so no class this day
No Lab
Nuclear Energy-I
Chapter 7
Nuclear Energy-II
Chapter 7
Final Exam Review-1 (Lecture class instead to prepare before final exam)
No lab or class
Final Exam Review-2
Tentative date of the final exam (Details to be announced later)
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6. Lecture and Laboratory Schedule
The readings listed in this schedule are based on Chemistry in Context, 10th Edition. Additional
readings will be posted on NYU Classes and announced in class. Grade Components
Attendance & Class
Participation
Midterm Exam 1
Midterm Exam 2
Final Exam
Homework
Laboratory
5%
15 %
15 %
35 %
10 %
20 %
7. Exams
The course has two midterm exams and a final exam on the dates given below.
Midterm Exam 1
Thursday, March 18
Midterm Exam 2
Tuesday, April 27
Final Exam (Tentative date) Thursday, May 20
(Room: 102)
(Room: 102)
(Room: TBA)
Midterm Exam 1 will contain questions on material from Chapters 2 and 3. Midterm Exam 2 will
contain questions from Chapters 4, 5 and 6. The final Exam will be cumulative, with a bit more focus
on Chapter 7 & 8. Each exam also will contain one or two questions based on the laboratory
projects.
If you will miss a midterm exam because of illness, you must contact Professor Pal by e-mail before
the start of the exam and provide a doctor's note explaining your absence. No make-up exam will
be given for the midterms. Instead, the final exam will count as 45% of your course total. Since the
final exam will be cumulative, this option is not advisable unless extreme circumstances prevail.
The final exam is scheduled by the NYU Registrar’s Office and no alternative exam date will be
provided. A make-up will be given for the final exam only under exceptional circumstances that
must be discussed with Professor Pal prior to the exam. In the rare cases where approval is granted, a
grade of incomplete will be given for the course and the make-up will be scheduled for the Spring
2021 semester.
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8. Homework
Written homework assignments based on course content and/or additional readings will be made available
on the NYU CLASSES site each Thursday, or as specified in the syllabus. All homework assignments will
be due at the beginning of the next Tuesday’s class (11.15 AM) unless otherwise announced. You will
be expected to submit your completed homework assignment at the beginning of Tuesday’s class.
Homework must be submitted on time. Late homework will not be accepted. If you suffer from an
illness during the course and cannot complete homework assignments, you must provide a doctor’s note
to Professor Pal. The graded homework assignments will be returned to you the following week.
Mode of homework submission will be discussed in the first week. Also, you will be introduced to your
TAs in the first class.
9. Laboratory Sessions
You must be registered in a laboratory section in order to receive credit for the course. The sections
have a capacity of 24 students, which is determined by safety issues and availability of laboratory
equipment. The section enrollment will not be increased. If you are not appropriately registered for a
laboratory section, you will be required to drop the course. Two laboratory sessions will be held in
parallel in Lab 704 and Lab 703 on Fridays, and another laboratory session will be held in Lab 703 on
Mondays. Students are strictly requested not to touch any other equipment present in lab 703, other than
what you are instructed to work with. You cannot change between groups.
Lab marks breakup:
Attendance and class participation
Quiz
25%
Lab Assignment
50% points
25%
Attendance Credit: You are expected to arrive punctually for the beginning of the lab session.
Arriving more than 10 minutes late will result in a loss of attendance credit for the session.
Laboratory Quiz: Questions will be based on the introduction to the experiment in the laboratory
manual. Arriving more than 10 minutes late for the lab will exclude you from taking the quiz.
Laboratory Assignment: This assignment should be completed and submitted during the
laboratory period by working collaboratively with your laboratory partner. Some laboratories may
have a take-home component in addition to the in-lab exercises.
Lab Absence Policies
You are strongly advised to avoid missing any of the lab sessions. Because of the logistics of using the
laboratory room, no make-up labs are possible. In the event, however, that you cannot attend a lab
session because of serious illness, you must email Prof. Pal and attach a doctor’s note.
If you cannot attend a lab session because of a religious observance, you must email to Professor Pal in
advance of the missed lab. In case of absences, you will lose credit for the lab session. However, for
informing in advance and for valid reason of absence you may be considered for an option of adjusting
credits for one lost lab session. Unexcused lab absences will result in total loss of credit for that lab
session.
10. Office Hours & Email:
I will be available for office hour on Mondays and Wednesdays (1.00 - 2.00 pm). Please make an
appointment in advance. If you send emails to make occasional appointments during or outside of office
hours, please include the course name (E&E) and main purpose of the email in the subject line (e.g.,
appointment, homework, or general question). Please do not send numerous questions by email and it is
encouraged that you ask questions in the class so that all your friends can participate in a group
discussion.
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11. Conducts and Academic Integrity:
If you are caught cheating/plagiarizing in this course, you will receive a grade of F and your actions will be
reported to the Dean of your school. You can destroy your entire career in an attempt to score a few extra
points. Think about that. It isn't worth it. Cheating includes carrying any unauthorized written material
during a quiz or exam, storing any information in your calculator (which we will check for), talking to
anyone other than an instructor during a quiz or exam, copying work from another student (or allowing
another student to copy from you), changing an answer on a quiz or exam after it has been graded, and
anything else that would give you an unfair advantage over other members of the class.
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