Undergraduate Course: Environmental Chemistry 2 (CHEM08020)
Course Outline
| School | School of Chemistry |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This is a second year level 8 course for science students who wish to expand their knowledge into the applied field of environmental chemistry. The course is designed to broaden students' awareness of the new emphasis chemistry must place on matters of environment: the formation of the Earth's elements and Earth's chemical composition; how our physical environment reacts to anthropogenic chemicals and consequences of industrial processes; how chemical toxicity is affecting the biosphere; what treatment and remediation processes are currently used to reverse anthropogenic changes to our environment. |
| Course description |
This course is designed to allow students to make connections between chemistry and the social and industrial worlds it is an integral part of. The lectures have the four main themes; elements, the chemical composition and processes occurring in our environment, pollution and remediation strategies and toxicology. The course also has a large laboratory component, which will expose students to many of the techniques used in industrial analytical laboratories.
Students are advised that the level of chemistry in this course is at the second year undergraduate academic level.
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed (
Chemistry 1A (CHEM08016) OR
Biological Chemistry 1A (CHEM08022)) AND (
Chemistry 1B (CHEM08017) OR
Biological Chemistry 1B (CHEM08023))
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Requires first year chemistry or biological chemistry, or other chemistry qualifications sufficient to permit exemption from first year chemistry. Students who have been granted direct entry into second year of a Chemistry degree programme may also enrol in this course. |
| Additional Costs | Purchase of a laboratory coat. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students are advised that the level of chemistry in this course is at the second year undergraduate academic level. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 84 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 25,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
144 )
|
| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
14
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
15 %,
Practical Exam
35 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
The exam component consists of one 3-hour, written exam in the May diet.
The essay component is 15% of the overall course mark.
The practical component is 35% of the overall course mark. It consists of one 3-hour laboratory session per week for six weeks. Laboratory sessions run on Monday 2-5 pm OR Wednesday 2-5 pm.
|
| Feedback |
Feedback
Feedback will be provided through three major channels:
Tutorials:
A series of tutorials/examples classes will enable students to solve practical problems based on the lecture materials. The tutorial period will also allow students to discuss in-depth any issues with the appropriate lecturer.
You will also be given the opportunity to supply feedback regarding each of your marked exercises as well as an overall assessment for each of your lecture and practical courses. This feedback will be used to improve our performance at the teaching/learning interface. You will also be given the opportunity to rate your lecturers and your laboratory demonstrators.
Essay:
You will be asked to choose an essay topic from a supplied list. During the writing stage of this assignment you will be given the opportunity to garner feedback from the relevant academic staff member.
Laboratories:
Each lab report you complete will be returned a week after submission and you will have the chance to discuss any comments and the mark on your report with your demonstrator so you can learn from these and improve for future reports. During the laboratory sessions you will be supervised by a demonstrator who will be available to provide continual feedback on your practical performance. Labs take place in the School of Chemistry, Christina Miller Building, King's Buildings.
|
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 3:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 3:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the formation and composition of the Earth's elements
- Describe the major chemical composition and processes occurring our environment, and explain the chemistry underpinning some of the perturbation humankind is causing to the natural environment
- Describe the basic principles of environmental toxicology, discuss illustrative examples, and perform simple calculations of relevance to the assessment of human exposure to potentially harmful chemical entities in the environment
- Discuss the chemical principles underpinning recovery and removal of valuable chemicals, including waste treatment options
- Perform accurate laboratory work using a range of analytical instrumental techniques
|
Reading List
Recommended texts:
Environmental Chemistry, C.Baird and M.Cann, ISBN: 978-1429201469
Chemistry of the Environment, T.G. Spiro and W.M. Stigliani, ISBN: 978-1891389702
Introduction to Environmental Chemistry, N.J.Bunce, 0-920063-50-0
Environmental Chemistry, S.E. Manahan, ISBN: 978-1566706339
Understanding Out Environment, R.M. Harrison, ISBN: 978-0851862330 |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Time management (laboratory)
Independent planning (laboratory)
Good Laboratory Practise (GLP) (laboratory)
Appreciation of the role of chemistry in industry (career seminars) |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
25 hours of lectures, 7.5 hours of examples classes, an essay workshop, 18 hours of laboratories. Each lecture course unit has an associated 1.5 hour examples class.
There is a (no cost to students) class trip. In recent years this has involved a guided tour of the peat bog at Red Moss of Balerno followed by a scenic walk to the Harlaw Visitor Centre in the Pentland Hills. Learning Outcomes of the Red Moss trip: you will see one of the last remaining peat bogs in Southern Scotland. You will learn about raised bogs; vegetation; bird life; the history of the site; the restoration and scientific projects taking place.
This is an indication of the type of class trip students can go on.
|
| Keywords | EC2,environmental chemistry |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Nicholle Bell
Tel: (0131 6)50 4735
Email: Nicholle.Bell@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Morag Munro
Tel: (0131 6) 51 7258
Email: Morag.Munro@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage