Syllabus for Environmental Chemistry
Course Code：05022101
Credits： 3
Total Hours：54
Instructor： A/Prof. Ran Xu
Examiner：Prof. Fengting Li
1.Characteristics and Objective
Environmental Chemistry is set for the undergraduates of four-year curriculum who major in
Environmental Science. It is a compulsory course and total hour is 54.
The objectives of this course are to (1) teach the students basic knowledge of environmental
chemistry, such as chemistry of atmosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere and biosphere; (2) teach the
student how to apply basic theories and methods of chemistry to study the environmental issues
caused by chemical substances (pollutants); (3) provide the students with broad and strong
knowledge base for solving related problems.
2.Basic Requirement
After the lectures, students should know the general development of environmental chemistry
in our country, grasp basic concepts of environmental chemistry and basic theories of prevention
and control of air, water, and soil pollution.
3.Basic Content
3.1 Lecture content
1. General introduction of environmental chemistry
（1） The development of environmental chemistry in our country
（2） The objective, content and requirement of environmental chemistry
2. Atmospheric chemistry
（1） Atmospheric structure
（2） Atmospheric compisition
（3） Air pollution
（4） Particles and Clouds
（5） Climate
（6） Stratospheric ozone depletion
（7） Water in the atmosphere-Acid rain
3. Hydrospheric chemistry
（1） Water chemistry basics
（2） Colloids
（3） Adsorption and reaction at surfaces
（4） Oxidation and reduction
（5） Dispersions
（6） Dissolution and precipitation
（7） Endocrine disruptors in water
4. Pedospheric chemistry
（1） Soil Structure and Components
（2） Soil properties
（3） Heavy metals in soil
（4） Agricultural chemicals in soill
5. Biospheric chemistry
（1） Bioaccumulation of pollutants
（2） Chemical contaminants and ecotoxicology
6. Typical pollutants and their fate in the environment
3.2 Teaching methods
Lecture to the student.
4.Experiment or Computer Operation
Please refer to Experiments of Environmental Chemistry.
5.Preparatory Course Requirement
General Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, and advanced
mathematics.
6.Hours Distribution
Hours
NO.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Content
General
introduction of
environmental
chemistry
Atmospheric
chemistry
Hydrospheric
chemistry
Pedospheric
chemistry
Biospheric
chemistry
Transport and
transformation of
typical pollutants
in the
environment
Total
Theoretic
Teaching
Experiment
Exercise
Computer
Operation
Subtotal
2
2
14
14
16
16
12
12
6
6
4
4
54
54
7.Textbooks and Main Reference Books
[1]
[2]
[3]
Chemistry of the Environment, Spiro, T.G. and Stigliani, W.M. 2nd ed., Tsinghua University
Press, 2003. ISBN: 730206816X
Water Chemistry, Snoeyink, V. and D. Jenkins. J. Wiley and Sons, 1980
Environmental Chemistry, Shugui Dai (ed.), Higher Education Press, 1997. ISBN:
7-04-005781-6