UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING SCIENCES
Syllabus for EES 4201—Water Chemistry (Section 8063)
Instructor
Teaching Assistant
Dr. Jean-Claude Bonzongo
Office: 320 Black Hall
Tel: (352) 392-7604
Email: bonzongo@ufl.edu
Avni Solanki
Office hours: TBA
Office: TBA
Tel: TBA
Email: avnisol@ufl.edu
Office hours: TBA
Lecture building
and room
LAR
Room 310
Lecture days/times
M, W, and F
3rd period
(9:35—10:25 am)
Course description and objectives: This course is designed to provide students with fundamental
knowledge that is needed to solve pollution problems specific to aquatic systems. The course focuses
primarily on chemical equilibrium and kinetic principles associated with both natural and engineered
aquatic systems. Students will solve quantitative chemical equilibrium and kinetic problems and develop
an understanding of chemical concepts/principles which are the basis for design experiences in both
academic programs and professions in environmental engineering.
Textbook: “Water Chemistry” by Mark Benjamin, 2nd Edition (ISBN 1-4786-2308-X or 978-4786-2308-3)
Prerequisites: CHM 2046 or CHM 2096 and MAC 2311 or MAC 2233.
Relationship of this course to the objectives of the Environmental Engineering Science
Program: The fundamental understanding of aquatic chemistry principles emphasized in this course
will allow students to acquire skills needed to adequately deal with pollution prevention and control in
both natural and engineered aquatic systems. This course is a tremendous asset for professional
careers in environmental engineering, with obvious benefits for society.
Student outcomes addressed in this course: Students who successfully complete this course
should be able to: (1) identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems related to water pollution,
(2) apply knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, and engineering; and (3) acquire knowledge on fate
and environmental health impacts of pollutants in aquatic systems.
Exam and homework assignments: There will be a total of three tests and several homework
assigned throughout the semester. Solutions to the homework and exams will be posted on Canvas.
Final grades in this course will be determined on the
following basis:
 Test-1
20%
 Test-2
25%
 Test-3
30%
 Homework 25%
Dr. Bonzongo
Office hours: TBA
Location: 320 Black Hall
Avni Solanki (TA)
Office hours: TBA
Location: TBA
90–100 A
87–89 A83 –86 B+
80–82 B
76–79 B+
73 –75 C
70–72 C
66–69 C+
63 –65 D
60–62 D
56–59 D<56
E
In order to graduate, students must have an overall GPA and an upper-division GPA of 2.0 or better
(C or better). Note: a C- average is equivalent to a GPA of 1.67, and therefore, it does not satisfy this
Grading Scale:
1
graduation requirement. For more information on grades and grading policies, please visit:
https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx
Class Attendance: Students are encouraged to attend all classes. History indicates that students
who do not attend class do poorly on examinations and suffer the consequence of low grades.
Canvas: We will use Sakai for this course. Notes consisting of power point slides to be used in
class, homework assignments and other information will be posted on UF-Canvas site. Online
information regarding common tools in Sakai is provided for students. This information is available via
the Student Intro to ELS link at http://lss.at.ufl.edu. Students needing assistance with the computer
and technical requirements for using E-learning, should seek this assistance from the UF HelpDesk
http://helpdesk.ufl.edu/ 352-392-4357, helpdesk@ufl.edu). The HelpDesk can also assist students
who are having trouble logging into E-learning.
Make-up Exam Policy: Make-up exams are only given for medical reasons. A student may request a
make-up exam if they cannot attend the scheduled exam for medical reasons and can show proofs of
such reasons (e.g. letter from a PCP or hospital). The student must contact the instructor
(bonzongo@ufl.edu) before the exam to state that he/she will not be able to attend the exam.
Penalties on overdue homework assignments: Overdue assignments will be penalized at a rate of
-50 points per day. For instance, a homework assignment due on 10/10/2015 and turned in on
10/11/2015 will be graded over 50 and not 100.
Students with Disabilities: Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with
the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student
who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation.
Cell Phones: Cell phones must be turned off or put in silent mode at the beginning of class; use of
cell phones for calls or messaging during class is prohibited.
Academic Honesty: All students admitted to the University of Florida have signed a statement of
academic honesty committing themselves to be honest in all academic work and understanding that
failure to comply with this commitment will result in disciplinary action. This statement is a reminder to
uphold your obligation as a UF student and to be honest in all work submitted and exams taken in this
course and all others.
Software Use: All faculty, staff, and students of the University of Florida are required and expected
to obey the laws and legal agreements governing software use. Failure to do so can lead to monetary
damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator. Because such violations are also against
University policies and rules, disciplinary action will be taken as appropriate.
UF Counseling Services: Resources are available on-campus for students having personal
problems or lacking clear career and academic goals. The resources include:
 Counseling and Wellness Center, 3190 Radio Rd., 392-1575, Personal and Career
Counseling.
 SHCC Mental Health, http://shcc.ufl.edu/,Student Health Care Center, 392-1161, Personal
Counseling.
 Center for Sexual Assault/Abuse Recovery and Education (CARE), Student Health Care
Center, 392-1161, sexual assault counseling.
 Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career development assistance and
counseling.
2
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE
Week Dates
Lecture Topics
Basics of Aquatic Chemistry
8/24
8/26
1
8/28
2
8/31
9/02
9/04



The water molecule
Dissolution of solutes in water
Quantitation in water chemistry
Chemical Reactivity, Reactions & Equilibrium



Chemical reactions
Activity and Activity Coefficients
Chemical Equilibrium
Kinetics-Based Interpretation of Equilibrium
3
9/07 NO
CLASS
9/09
9/11



Reaction Kinetics and Rate Constants
Effect of Temperature
Order of reactions
Thermodynamics & Water Chemistry
4
9/14
9/16
9/18



Gibbs free energy of reaction under
equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions
Saturation Index
Precipitation/Dissolution reactions
Acids and Bases – PARTS 1 & 2
5
6
7
9/21
9/23
9/25
9/28
9/30
10/02
10/05
10/07
10/09
8
10/12
10/14
10/16
9
10/19
10/21
10/23






Structure of acids & bases
Acid/Base Speciation vs. pH
Log C – pH diagrams
Solving Acid/Base problems
The mass balance on H
Identifying dominant species in acid-base
systems
Geochemical Equilibrium Models
 MINTEQ
 Using chemical equilibrium software to
develop Log C – pH diagrams
Titrations and Buffers
 Qualitative & quantitative considerations
 Data interpretation
 Titrations, Equivalence Points
 Alkalinity and acidity
 Using MINTEQ to simulate titrations
3
Textbook Assignments
Chap/pages
1
pp: 2-30
HW-1
8/28
2
pp: 38-73
HW-2
9/04
3
pp: 78-113
HW-3
9/11
None
Handout
TEST-1
9/18
4&5
Part-1: Chap-4
pp: 217-280
Part-2: Chap-5
pp: 292-341
HW-4
10/02
7
pp: 354-375
8
pp: 378-453
HW-5
10/16
10
10/26
10/28
10/30



Gas/Liquid Equilibrium
Gas–Liquid Equilibrium and Henry’s Constant
Effect of Ionization on Gas–Liquid Equilibria
CO2 Dissolution and Alkalinity/Acidity of H2O
Chemistry of metals in aquatic systems
11/02
11/04
11
HOMECOM
ING – NO
CLASS on
Friday
11/06







12
11/09
NO CLASS
ON 11/11
11/13
13
14
11/16
11/18
11/20
11/23
11/25
11/27





15
16
12/07
12/09
pp: 378-453
TEST-2
10/30
10 & 11
Solution Phase Reactions
Metal oxidation states
Aquo-complexes of metals
Log C – pH diagram for metals
Metal speciation is systems with ligands
Predominance phase diagrams
pp: 528-566
Precipitation & Dissolution Reactions
Formation of solids containing metal ions
The chemical activity of pure solids
pp: 576-647
The solubility products
Non-hydroxo-complexes in systems with solids
MINETEQ
Redox Chemistry
 Definitions (oxidation, reduction, reduction,
oxidation sate)
 Definitions of e0 and pe0 - the EH scale
 Oxidation and reduction of water
 Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
 Redox titrations, redox buffering
 Geochemical redox sequence
 pe – pH phase diagrams: Distribution of
species in aquatic systems
HW-7
11/03
12
pp: 663-756
HW-8
11/23
THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS
Adsorption Reactions
11/30
12/02
12/04
9




13
Adsorption Terminology & Mechanisms
Adsorption Isotherms
Modeling Adsorption with MINTEQ
Electrical Potential & Adsorption
pp: 770-840
There will be no final exam during the final exam week.
4
TEST-3
12/09