IEP 280: Environmental Chemistry is an introductory environmental chemistry course covering chemical theory, calculations, measurements, and laboratory skills. Laboratory exercises address basic skills including laboratory safety, quantitative measurement, and use of common laboratory apparatus. Laboratory exercises are derived from standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. The course goal is for graduates to master basic chemical theory, solve chemistry problems, use environmental chemistry references, demonstrate safe chemistry laboratory practices, and perform standard methods for the determination of total, suspended and dissolved solids, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity and turbidity in water and wastewater samples.
Prerequisites: Admission into the Selkirk College Integrated Environmental Planning Technology (IEPT) program and completion of the common first year for the School of Environment & Geomatics Forestry, Recreation Fish & Wildlife and IEPT program.
Note: Pre-requisites(s) may be waived with the permission of the Instructor
Corequisite: None
Crosslisted: None
Accessibility Services Notice
Students who would like an academic accommodation and who have a documented disability should contact Accessibility Services, if they have not already done so.Course Details| Total number of weeks | 15 |
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| Total Credits | |
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| Total Hours | 90 |
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Typical hours per week breakdown| Lecture | 3 |
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| Lab (lab, field, computer) | 3 |
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Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:
- Differentiate basic chemistry concepts such as matter, conservation of mass, atoms, atomic structure, moles, reactions, stoichiometry, acids and bases, and redox.
- Relate and appraise examples of chemical processes and applied environmental chemistry such as acid mine drainage, nutrient contamination of water, pulp manufacturing and sulphide metal refining.
- Use a scientific calculator and dimensional analysis to solve applied problems.
- Practice and assimilate safe environmental chemistry laboratory work skills such as use of common laboratory apparatus, perform appropriate lab record keeping, calibrate and operate basic instruments such as a refractometer, pH meter and conductivity (electrical conductance, EC) meter, justify the choice of instrument, and critique the instrument's strengths and weaknesses.
- Design and evaluate a method to prepare and dilute solutions.
- Collect benthic invertebrates samples, identify specimens to order, calculate a sequential comparison index and diversity index, and interpret the significance and limitations of the results.
- Complete a chronic toxicity test and assess significance and limitations of the results.
- Apply standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater to measure total solids, suspended solids, dissolved solids, pH, conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and alkalinity, and evaluate the significance the limitations of the measurements.
Grading Table
| Percentage |
Letter Grade |
GPA |
| 90-100 |
A+ |
4.33 |
| 85-89 |
A |
4.00 |
| 80-84 |
A- |
3.67 |
| 76-79 |
B+ |
3.33 |
| 72-75 |
B |
3.00 |
| 68-71 |
B- |
2.67 |
| 64-67 |
C+ |
2.33 |
| 60-63 |
C |
2.00 |
| 55-59 |
C- |
1.67 |
| 50-54 |
P |
1.00 |
| 0-49 |
F |
0.00 |
| |
DNW |
0.00 |
See the Academic Calendar for General Information including how to withdraw from course(s) and other regulations.
Disclaimer
Information contained in this course outline is correct at the time of publication. Content of the course is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational, employment and market needs. The instructor will endeavor to provide notice of changes to students as soon as possible. The instructor reserves the right to add or delete material from courses.