2023
Environmental Chemistry
Name: Environmental Chemistry
Code: QUI13520M
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Chemistry
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
The course aims to equip students with knowledge on pollution, its causes and effects, mainly in two environmental compartments: air and water. The sessions will focus on physical and chemical principles of air and aquatic pollution and methods of control and monitoring.
At the end of the unit the student should be able to:
- discuss the reasons for air pollution and its consequences;
- identify the main pollutants and how they can be monitored;
- know the best strategy for addressing situations of emissions of gases and particles;
- Know and understand the central role of modeling in explaining and interpretation of phenomena in many areas of science and technology and apply their knowledge to solve concrete problems in order to preserve, promote and enhance this kind of systems.
On the other hand, the course must contribute to the formation of an environmental awareness and ethics in students, which should delimit their future professional activity.
At the end of the unit the student should be able to:
- discuss the reasons for air pollution and its consequences;
- identify the main pollutants and how they can be monitored;
- know the best strategy for addressing situations of emissions of gases and particles;
- Know and understand the central role of modeling in explaining and interpretation of phenomena in many areas of science and technology and apply their knowledge to solve concrete problems in order to preserve, promote and enhance this kind of systems.
On the other hand, the course must contribute to the formation of an environmental awareness and ethics in students, which should delimit their future professional activity.
Contents
Air pollutants and its action. Stratospheric ozone. Photochemical smog. Acid rain. Air particles in suspension. Volatile organic compounds. Greenhouse effect gases. Metals and metallic compounds. Air pollutants monitoring. Environmental laws. Standard methods for monitoring the main air pollutants.
Chemical equilibriums in natural waters: acid-base equilibrium; solubility equilibriums; redox equilibriums. Natural cycle and regulation of trace metals in aquatic environments: Global cycling of metals; solid - water interface; complexation by humic substances; hydrophobic systems; regulation of heavy metals in rivers, lakes and oceans. Regulation of the chemical composition of natural waters: biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur; Interdependence of biogeochemical cycles. Nature and types of aquatic pollutants: Eutrophication. Modelling applied to environmental systems.
Chemical equilibriums in natural waters: acid-base equilibrium; solubility equilibriums; redox equilibriums. Natural cycle and regulation of trace metals in aquatic environments: Global cycling of metals; solid - water interface; complexation by humic substances; hydrophobic systems; regulation of heavy metals in rivers, lakes and oceans. Regulation of the chemical composition of natural waters: biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur; Interdependence of biogeochemical cycles. Nature and types of aquatic pollutants: Eutrophication. Modelling applied to environmental systems.
Teaching Methods
The course is composed by theoretical and theoretical-practical sessions. The theoretical classes are essentially composed by structured exposition, complemented with important moments of interaction and discussion. The theoretical-practical classes constitute moments of studying questions and concepts on a practical approach, settling and structuring the knowledge, as well as development of skills, where some application problems are solved and discussed.
The evaluation is composed by a final exam (with the option of tests in a continuous assessment regime) and/or monographies. Whenever a monography is proposed, its weight will be 30 % of the final mark, either on a continuous or final assessment basis, with 70 % accounting for final exam.
The evaluation is composed by a final exam (with the option of tests in a continuous assessment regime) and/or monographies. Whenever a monography is proposed, its weight will be 30 % of the final mark, either on a continuous or final assessment basis, with 70 % accounting for final exam.
Teaching Staff
