B2192 - CHEMISTRY OF MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will acquire the basic knowledge of the chemistry of the sea, the chemical composition of the oceans and the factors that govern it. The student will be able to describe the distribution of the elements/chemicals in the marine environment as a function of the chemical reactivity and interaction with the main physical and biological processes.

Course contents

Module 1 and 2.

• Marine and coastal environment.
• Major marine and coastal environmental issues.
• Composition of marine waters: dissolved gases, dissolved organic matter, major, minor and trace constituents.
• Ocean acidification: the chemistry behind ocean acidification, monitoring "The Big Four", effects of ocean acidification on marine organisms and ecosystems.
• Pollution deriving from organic matter: BOD, COD, organic load.
• Heavy metal pollution in coastal waters.
• Sources, environmental fate, and effects of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the marine environments.
• Overview of analytical methodologies for seawater and sediment analysis.
• Detection of plastic materials. Assessment of the threat posed by persistent polluting plastics. Effect of the presence of plastics in different environments.

Teaching methods

• Front teaching in class and discussion of current scientific literature concerning the course topics.
• Practical exercises.

Assessment methods

The acquisition of the expected knowledge and transferred skills is assessed through a final exam. The exam consists of a written test, which may include multiple-choice questions, open-ended questions and short exercises. Multiple choice questions are 12 and assign a score of 1 each if the answer is correct and 0 if the answer is incorrect or absent. Short exercises are 3 and can assign a maximum score of 2 each. Open-ended questions are 3 and can assign a maximum score of 4 each if the answer is correct and 0 if the answer is absent or incorrect. Intermediate scores between 0-4 are expected and determined by the completeness of the answer. The

exam is passed with a minimum score of 18/30. Honors (i.e., “cum laude”) may be awarded in the case of particularly meritorious evidence.

To take the exam, registration via " Almaesami" is required, in compliance with the established deadlines. Those who are unable to register by the scheduled date are required to promptly communicate the issue to the lecturers, before the official closing of the registration lists. The lecturers have the right to admit or deny the student to take the test.

Teaching tools

Video projector, PC, internet, databases, multimedia tools, chemical laboratory equipment. 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

 

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Girolamo Rombolà

See the website of Cristian Torri