IEP 280 Environmental Chemistry

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

1. define concepts such as matter, states of matter, and relationships between volume, mass and density,
2. name elements, common ions and ionic compounds using a Periodic Table and tables of common ions,
3. name ionic compounds given their formulae or write the formulae for ionic compounds given their names,
4. define an acid and a base, name and writing the chemical formula for major inorganic acids, and solve simple acid-base neutralization problems,
5. define Avogadro’s number, mole and molar mass.
6. explain the use of moles and molar mass in quantifying amounts in chemical reactions,
7. identify common types of chemical reactions (synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, double replacement, organic oxidation and acid-base neutralization),
8. define percent completion of a reaction and list factors that will affect reaction completion and rate of reaction,
9. explain how a balanced equation can be used to predict the amount of product formed,
10. describe applications of chemistry and chemical processes such as pulp manufacturing and sulphide metal refining,
11. define basic environmental chemistry concepts such as nutrient enrichment in ground and surface water, suspended and dissolved solids in water samples, acidity, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, conductivity and turbidity and their role in assessing environmental quality,
12. solve problems using dimensional analysis and explain the value of dimensional analysis as a means of solving problems, tracing steps, and sharing information,
13. list poor, fair, good, and excellent ranges for the parameters in the previous point,
14. use reference texts to obtain environmental chemistry information such as toxicity data, chemical and physical data, solubility, maximum dissolved oxygen content versus water temperature etc.
15. apply the concepts of precision, accuracy, rounding, significant figures and scientific notation.
16. use a calculator to solve algebraic expressions that may include exponential notation and express results in scientific notation
17. solve mass, density and volume problems,
18. balance chemical equations,
19. solve acid-base neutralization problems,
20. describe how to prepare a specific volume of an aqueous solution of known concentration from dry reagents when the concentration is in percent mass, parts per million (ppm) by mass or molarity,
21. describe how to dilute a stock solution of known strength to prepare a solution of specific volume and concentration, and how to correct the method to accommodate the use of standard laboratory glassware,
22. use dimensional analysis to calculate the theoretical yield of products in moles or grams given the amounts of reactants and a chemical equation.
23. review the use of the SI system of measurement, demonstrate unit conversions, define and provide examples of derived units, apply rules for rounding, define precision and accuracy,
24. learn safe environmental chemistry laboratory work skills, name, and explain the use of common laboratory apparatus, and perform appropriate lab record keeping,
25. sample for benthic invertebrates, identify specimens to order and calculate a sequential comparison index and diversity index based on the sample collected,
26. undertake a chronic toxicity test, explain the function and application of such a test, differentiate between chronic and acute toxicity, employ appropriate controls, and describe the relative toxicity of a sample in terms of a standard toxic compound.
27. prepare specific volumes and concentrations (expressed as percent by mass, ppm by mass and Molarity) of aqueous solutions from dry reagents,
28. dilute solutions of known concentration and volume using V1C1 = V2C2.
29. calibrate and operate a pH and a conductivity or electrical conductance (EC) meter,
30. perform standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater for total solids, suspended solids, dissolved solids, pH, conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and alkalinity.
31. write and balance chemical reactions, identify the reactants and products in chemical reactions, describe a chemical reaction as exothermic or endothermic, and explain the heat of reaction (?H) for a chemical reaction,
32. define conservation of mass and mass balance studies and explain why they are important to environmental science,
33. define mixtures, compounds, atoms, molecules, electrons, neutrons, protons, isotopes and ions,
34. describe the basics of the Bohr and Quantum Mechanic atomic models,
35. solve temperature versus energy of water problems as the water changes state using dimensional analysis and employ terms such as latent heat, specific heat, heat of fusion, and heat of vaporization,
36. use the Periodic Table to obtain atomic number, mass number, atomic mass, elemental name, elemental symbol and to make predictions regarding the properties of a particular element.