DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
Chem A1100
CCNY
Spring 2009
COURSE SYLLABUS
LECTURES
INSTRUCTOR: Professor Teresa J. Bandosz
office : J-1316;
Telephone: (212) 650-6017; E-mail:
tbandosz@.ccny.cuny.edu
CONSULTING HOURS: Tuesday, and Thursday: 11-12 or by appointment.
TIME: 3 credit hours. On selected Tuesdays or Thursdays 5:00- 6:15 PM
This is an online hybrid course. It requires Internet access. We will meet on
selected Tuesdays or Thursdays ( see the syllabus) to discuss the
assignments. You have to submit the assignment during the week when it is
posted. Your assignment will be graded. You are expected to follow the
lecture schedule yourself. The lecture notes are included in the Course
Documents. Two midterm exams and final examination are scheduled to be
taken in at CCNY.
Wherever you have access to the Internet, you can get to CUNY portal at
http://www.cuny.edu and then log-in using your username and password (as a
registered student you should have one). If you do not have username and
password you have to register following the instructions.
You can also get an access to your site following the link to the Blackboard
at CCNY portal and Environmental Chemistry course A1100 for Spring 2009.
We'll be using this site to learn new information and to respond to each
other's questions, thoughts, and insights. Please click every button on the
left side of this page (beginning with the one labeled Course Information).
Each button has folders attached to it. Each folder has at least one
document in it. Many of the documents will not appear on the screen until
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you click the blue underlined hyperlink. Please read every document in every
folder that is attached to the Course Information, Staff Information,
Course Documents, and Assignments buttons.
I hope you enjoy using this internet page to learn and to share your
responses.
TEXT BOOK: Environmental Chemistry; S.E. Manahan, 8th edition, 2004
WEBSITE: http://www.sci.ccny.cuny.edu/~tbandosz
Blackboard site access via: http://www.cuny.edu
PREREQUISITES:
General Chemistry: 10401
Organic Chemistry: 26100
Analytical Chemistry: 24300
GENERAL OBJECTIVE: Environmental Chemistry is intended to broaden the
students understanding of chemical processes taking place in our
environment. The relationship between atmospheric, soil and water
chemistry will be underlined. This course draws upon general, analytical and
organic chemistry experience.
LEARNING GOALS:
Students should:
 Know the relationship between all spheres of the environment
 Know the major pollutants in all spheres, their origin and fate
 Be aware of the environmental effects of pollution
 Know the cycles of environmentally significant elements
 Be aware of the effects of pollution on humans
 Link technology, resources and energy
 Know how to identify and how to treat hazardous wastes
 Know what analytical techniques are used to study the
pollution of the environment.
CONCEPTUAL THINKING OBJECTIVES:
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Bandosz, Chem. A1100

Reading:
cause-effect logic, hypothesis testing, summarizing
logic

Writing:
cause-effect links, objective designing, experiment
planing


Data analysis:
relevant data sources, data treatment, qualitative
and quantitative evaluation, data consistency, error analysis
Models: cause-effect, correlation, trends
LEARNING ACTIVITIES/ ASSESMENT TOOLS:


Text reading
On line assignments




Class-time (discussion)
Group discussion
Problem solving (individual)
Student-instructor consulting
HOME ASSIGNMENT: The course requires extensive reading and
understanding of each chapter covered during the lecture. Students are
encouraged to solve the problems and find answers to all theoretical
questions after each chapter.
ATTENDANCE: Students are required to attend all in class discussions and
submit on line all assignments. After three absences the instructor will ask
the Registrar to withdraw the student form the course with WU.
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Bandosz, Chem. A1100
TERM PAPER: In addition to lectures students are required to prepare a
term paper dealing with current environmental problems (at least 3500
words). This assignment is based on extended literature study and analysis
of the published data. At the end of the term each student is supposed to
give a short presentation summarizing his/her environmental research. Each
student can chose a topic according to his/her interests. A deadline to
submit the title and short abstract is March 10. Term paper is expected to
be computer generated. It should consist of Introduction, Results (if
applied), Discussion, Conclusion and References Cited according to the
scientific format. The paper will be graded by the instructor, however, for
the grade from the presentation the grades given by the student peers will
be taken into account.
GRADING:
No INCOMPLETE Grade
Hour test (2)
30%
Term paper
30%
Presentation
10%
Final
30%
To arrange a make up of an exam a note from a doctor,
etc. HAS TO be shown.
HONESTY:
In this course, students are encouraged to discuss the problems on term
papers with one another, however the submission of identical work is
plagiarism
READING LIST (suggestion):
Scientific Journals:
Environmental Science and Technology
Chemical and Engineering News
Chemical Engineering Progress
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Bandosz, Chem. A1100
Environmental Progress
Chemtech
Water Resources
and other relevant WEB resources
Relationship of course to program outcomes:
After completing this course students should:
1. Know the relationship between all spheres of
environment in terms of generation and fate of
pollutants.
2. Know causes and effects of acid rain, global warming,
ozone layer depletions, and photochemical smog
3. Be able to describe in chemistry terms (reactions, phase
interactions) the effects of basic inorganic and organic
pollutants (acidic gases, PAH, radicals, heavy metals) on
the environment.
4. Be aware of the solutions used to minimize, reduce and
recycle wastes generated in the anthrosphere.
5. Be able to evaluate the role of chemist and chemical
engineers in polluting/cleaning the environment
6. Work as part of a problem solving team to solve
chemistry problems.
7. Be able to search data bases to extract the needed
information
Topics covered:
1. Nitric Dioxide in Urban Air:
Its Origin, Concentration
and Fate (one week)
2. Lead in Soil (two weeks)
3. Lead in Shells (one week)
4. PCBs in the lower Hudson
River sediments (two weeks)
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Dept
outcome
letters
b, c
a, b, c
a, e
a, e, i
b,d
f, k
b, d
aj
5. Pesticides in fruits and
vegetables (two weeks)
6. Hudson River water Basic
Characteristics of Natural
Waters (one week)
7. Nitrates in Soils (one week)
8. Air filtration: Removal of
ammonia
Bandosz, Chem. A1100
9. Water filtration: Activated
carbons as adorbents
Relationship of course to program outcomes:
The outcome of this course contribute to the following departmental educational
outcomes:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
Course objective
Numbers
demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental
2-4
principles of chemistry, including atomic and molecular
structure, quantum chemistry, chemical bonding,
stoichiometry, kinetics and mechanism, equilibrium,
thermochemistry and thermodynamics, molecular
structure and function, electrochemistry, and the
periodic chemical properties of the elements.
1, 2, 5
apply the fundamental principles of chemistry to life
sciences, the environment, materials, engineering, and
emerging technological fields of chemistry, as well as to 6, 7,
everyday situations.
apply mathematical concepts to chemical problems
7
work as part of a problem-solving team
4-6
convey facts, theories and results about chemistry in
6
written form
use oral presentation to convey facts, theories and
6
results about chemistry
access and utilize chemical information technology
7
design and execute scientific research
1
apply ethical responsibilities and professional conduct
6
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Bandosz, Chem. A1100
A: SCHEDULE OF LECTURES
(to be done individually)
DATE
CHAPTERS and High priority areas
Jan. 27
IN CLASS MEETING
1. Environmental Science and Technology
 relationship between different spheres
Jan. 29
2. Environmental Chemistry and Chemical Cycles
 characteristics of hydrosphere
 main components of atmosphere
 geosphere and soil
 importance of respiration (aerobic and anaerobic)
 cycles of matter
 main steps in the cycles of :
 carbon,
 nitrogen
 sulfur
 phosphorus
Feb. 3
3.1-3.7. Fundamentals of Aquatic Chemistry
 Properties of water
 solubility of oxygen in water
 water acidity and the role of CO2
 water alkalinity
 metal ions in water and their effect on the properties of water
 complexation
 calculations of concentrations of [CO2], [HCO3-], [CO32- ], [Ca2+
], [H+]
Feb. 5
IN CLASS MEETING
3.8-3.14. Fundamentals of Aquatic Chemistry
3




formation constants and complexation
solubilization of lead, the mechanism
polyphosphates and their main reactions
the role of humic acid in water
Feb.10
4. Oxidation-Reduction
 definitions of terms
 pE and its change in a stratified body of water
 redox reactions
 electron activity
 Nerst equation. dependence of pE on K
 limitations of pE in water (pE-pH diagrams, the fundamentals of
their creation)
Feb. 17
5. Phase Interactions
 sediments, their composition and main reactions
 solubility of solids and gases
 characterization of colloids
 types of aggregation process
 sorption on solids
 ion exchange in sediments
Feb. 19
IN CLASS MEETING
6. Aquatic Microbial Biochemistry
 types of microorganisms (algaes, fungi, protozoa, bacteria)
 the role of bacteria metabolism in the environment
 reactions involved in bacteria metabolism
 the general mechanism of biodegradation by bacteria
 role of bacteria in nitrogen cycle
Feb. 24
7. Water Pollution
 types of water pollutants
 heavy metals, metalloids
 inorganic species
4
 organic pollutants, their sources, types and environmental
repercussions
Feb. 26
IN CLASS MEETING
8. Water Treatment
 Steps in waste water treatment
 Similarities and differences in sewage and industrial water
treatments
 Major chemical reactions used in water treatment:
Their purposes and examples
 precipitation
 colloid formation
 ion exchange
 complexation
 oxidation-reduction
 Physical processes applied in water treatment (removal of
organics)
 Disinfection
 Natural purification of water
March 3
EXAMINATION 1
March 5
9.Atmosphere
 Characteristics of the atmosphere and its major components
 Mechanisms of Energy Transfer
 Effects of atmospheric mass transfer on weather
 Temperature inversion and pollution
 Forms of species in the atmosphere
 Chemical reactions and their examples
 Photochemical reactions
 Reactions of free radicals
 Acid-base reactions
 Chain reactions of oxygen and nitrogen
March 10 10. Particles in the Atmopshere
 Forms of particles in the atmosphere
 Particles formation. Physical and chemical processes.
5
 Particles composition. Chemical nature.
 Effects of particles on the environment
 Particulate emission control
March 12 IN CLASS MEETING
11. Gaseous inorganic Air pollutants
 Chemical formulas of gaseous inorganic air pollutants
 Fate of CO.
 Atmospheric reactions of NOx.
 Creation of acid rain
 Sources of gaseous air pollutants
 Methods of pollution prevention.
March 17
12. Organic Air Pollutants
 Classification of organic pollutants
 Main reactions in the atmosphere
 oxidation
 reactions with radicals and radical formation
 Examples of organic pollutants containing heteroatoms.
 Organohalides and their effect on environment
March 19 13. Photochemical Smog
 Ingredients required to generate photochemical smog
 Role of hydrocarbons and NOx in the process of smog
formation
 chain reactions
 Gross photochemical oxidant (main components)
 Inorganic products from smog.
 Catalytic conversions in automobiles
 Effects of smog on the environment
March 24: IN CLASS MEETING
14. The endangered Global Atmosphere
 Natural and anthropogenic changes in the atmosphere
 Mechanism of creation and effects on environment of:
 global warming
6
 acid rains
 ozone layer depletion
 photochemical smog
 Actions to prevent atmospheric pollution
March 26
15. The Geosphere and Chemistry
 Classification of rocks
 Classification of minerals
 Rock cycle
 Clays and their role in soils
 Water and air in soils
 The influence of organic matter on the properties of soils
 Chemical and physical weathering
March 31 IN CLASS MEETING
16. Soil Chemistry
 Environmental aspects of agriculture
 Reactions in soils determining their acidity
 Macro- and Micro- nutrients and their functions
 Wastes and pollutants in soils and their fate
 Soil conservation
April 2
EXAMINATION 2
April 7
17. Technology, Resources and Energy
 Relationship between technology, resources and energy
 Environmental impact of manufacturing
 Environmental impact of transportation
 Natural resources of raw materials and their importance to
manufacturing
 Energy resources and conservation of energy
 Environmental aspect of application of fossil fuels
 Alternative sources of energy
April 21
18. Nature and Sources of Hazardous Waste
 Classification of hazardous materials
7
 Characteristics of hazardous materials
 Origin of hazardous wastes
 Characteristics of:
 Flammable and combustible substances
 reactive substances
 corrosive substances
 toxic substances
April 23
IN CLASS MEETING
19. Environmental Chemistry of Hazardous Waste
 Sources of hazardous wastes by the points of entry
 Factors influencing the transport and behavior of wastes in the
environment
 Transport, interactions and fate of hazardous wastes in
 geosphere
 atmosphere
 hydrosphere
 biosphere
April 28
20. Reducing, Treating and Dispensing of Hazardous Waste
 Physical methods of waste treatment
 Chemical methods of waste treatment.
 Methods of waste preparation for disposal
 Special treatment of wastes
 Leachate treatment
 Gas emission treatment
 In situ treatment
April 30
in class meeting
22. Toxicological Chemistry
 Criteria of toxicants classification.
 Behavior of toxicants in the body.
 Kinetic and dynamic phase of toxicants in the body
 Responses of organisms
 Tetratogens, mutagens, carcinogens.
Term paper presentation/ discussion
Term paper presentation/ discussion
May 5
May 7
8
May 12
May 14
Term paper presentation/ discussion
Term paper presentation/ discussion
FINAL-covers all material
9