07418 - Environmental Chemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student attains the fundamental knowledge of structure, chemical-physical processes and interactions characterizing the different environmental sectors: air, water and soil. Moreover, he will acquire the principles necessary to evaluate sources, behaviour and environmental impact of pollutants, considering in particular anthropic activities and industrial processes. Outlines related to the main emerging topics.

Course contents

Prerequisites

- Elementary functions: powers, roots, exponential and logarithm. Algebraic equations (Course: Mathematics with exercises)

- Dimensional formulae and physical units (Course: Physics). Errors (Courses: Physics; Analytical Chemistry)

- Chemical reactions and conservation of mass. The gaseous state. Pressure and temperature of a gas; Mixtures of gases and Dalton law of partial pressures. Homogeneous chemical equilibrium; Concentration units; Equilibrium constants and their use; Equilibria in solution; Ionic product of water; pH (Course: General and Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory). Acids and bases and pH of their solutions; Hydrolysis of salts and pH; Buffered solutions and titration; Solubility (Courses: General and Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory; Analytical Chemistry)

- General properties of transition elements. The coordination chemistry (Course: Inorganic Chemistry I with Laboratory)

- Functional groups, reactivity and classification of organic compounds (including natural organic compounds: proteins, sugars, fatty acids, etc.). (Course: Organic Chemistry with Laboratory)

- Knowledge of Thermodynamics. Phase equilibria in one-component and multi-component systems. The law of the ideal gas state. Molar fraction and partial pressure. First and second law of thermodynamics. Physical transformations of pure substances. Simple mixtures. Principles of photochemistry and radicalic reactions. (Course: Physical Chemistry I)

Course contents

Introduction

Presentation of the course and methods of examination. Introduction to environmental chemistry. Environmental sustainability.

The complexity of the environmental processes: biogeochemical cycles.

Pollutants: definitions, general chemical-physical properties and environmental behaviour.

Atmosphere

Structure and chemical-physical characteristics of the atmosphere. Solar radiation.

Stratospheric ozone and mechanisms inducing the “ozone hole” phenomenon.

Greenhouse gases, greenhouse effect, global warming and climate change.

The troposphere. Planetary Boundary Layer. Sources, reactions and effects of the main inorganic and organic compounds (in particular OH radical, sulfur and nitrogen compounds, tropospheric ozone, VOC, IPA, dioxins, PCB, heavy metals). Photochemical smog. Particulate matter: classification, sources, chemical composition, environmental and health effects. Atmospheric depositions and acid rains.

Water

Water properties, hydrosphere, hydrologic cycle. Characteristics of water bodies.

Dissolved gas in natural water: Henry’s law and stagnant film model. Oxygen and carbon dioxide in the water bodies. BOD, COD. The Carbonate System in Aquatic Systems.

Alkalinity, acidity, hardness. Behaviour of metals in water.

Dissolved and suspended particulate matter, sediments. Interactions between water and other phases.

Main organic and inorganic water pollutants: sources, reactions and effects.

Soil

Geosphere and soil. Weathering processes. Processes and factors influencing the soil formation. Soil profile and horizons.

Inorganic compounds in soil. Clay minerals structure and properties.

Organic compounds in soil. Humic and non-humic substances.

Main physical and chemical properties of soil (soil texture, ionic exchange capacity, pH).

Organic and inorganic contaminants and their interaction with soil components.

Readings/Bibliography

Fundamental

- Teaching material made available online by the teacher on the Platform Virtuale (https://virtuale.unibo.it/). The teaching material is available to the students enrolled in the course. Any passwords necessary to access the documents will be provided by the teacher.

- Lecture notes

Recommended

Although warmly recommended to the students for widening their knowledge of the various topics, these books are not formally adopted as textbooks or fully followed.

Stanley E. Manahan, Chimica dell'ambiente, Piccin Editore, 2000 or Stanley E. Manan, Environmental Chemistry, Ninth Edition, CRC Press 2010 (eBook)

Colin Baird, Michael Cann, Environmental Chemistry, Freeman, not before Ed 2012 (or the Italian version “Chimica dell’Ambiente”, Zanichelli Ed. 2013)

Grady Hanrahan, Key concepts in environmental chemistry, Elsevier (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9780123749932)

Seinfeld & Pandis, Atmospheric chemistry and physics: from air pollution to climate change, Wiley & Sons, Third Edition, 2016 (eBook) 

Stumm W, Morgan J.J. Aquatic chemistry: chemical equilibria and rates in natural waters, Wiley, 1996 (eBook)

Strawn, Daniel. Chichester, Soil Chemistry, John Wiley & Sons, 2015. (eBook)

Teaching methods

Frontal lesson with PC presentation and videos; reactions, examples and exercises will be explained at the blackboard.

During the course, exercises, group activities and/or presentation of case studies can be proposed.

Periodic interactive sessions of self-evaluation and review, also through the support of free apps for smartphones, are performed.

The course could include seminars and conferences on specific subjects.

The frequency of the lessons plays an important role in understanding the issues addressed, their interconnection and environmental implications.

The course is usually held in classroom-based mode. Possible changes due to the COViD-19 emergency are published at https://www.unibo.it/en/university/covid-19-The-measures-adopted-by-the-University-of-Bologna/covid-misure-universita-di-bologna.

Assessment methods

The final examination consists in a written test (max 2.5 hours) that aims to verify the achievement of the following learning outcomes:

- Knowledge of the structure and the chemical-physical processes characterizing the different environmental media: air, water, soil

- Knowledge of the main pollutants, their sources and their behavior in the environment

- Ability to apply the knowledge acquired to evaluate possible interactions between pollutants and environment and to identify potential environmental impacts related to human activities.

The written test consists in open questions, multiple choice questions and exercises (max 13, in total) aimed at verifying the level reached in the acquisition of expected knowledge and skills. The weight assigned for each question is made known at the beginning of the examination and is related to the difficulty of the question and to the level of learning checked. In the case of open questions, the relevance, completeness and clarity of the response, the ability to synthesize (where required), the achievement of an organic and critical vision of the issues addressed and the use of a proper scientific language will be evaluated. The evaluation is expressed in thirtieths and the exam is passed if the score is at least 18/30; laude is assigned to test very well performed.

During the test it is not allowed the use books or lecture notes. Calculator is required (no tablet or cell phones). The sheets required for the test will be provided by the teachers.

In order to attend the examination, it is necessary to enrol for the exam through AlmaEsami service (https://almaesami.unibo.it/) before the deadline (usually one week prior the exam date and visible under “Exam sessions” in the Teaching page of the teacher website).

In case of exam sessions with less than four candidates the teacher can evaluate whether to perform the final examination through an oral exam (organized similarly to the written test).

Students with disabilities or DSA are suggested to request support at least 15 days before the day of the exam, sending an email to both the teacher and the Student Service with Disabilities and DSA of the University of Bologna (http: //www.studentidisabili.unibo.it/).

Teaching tools

PC and projector, blackboard, Virtual Learning Environment "Virtuale", free Apps for Smartphones.

Students with DSA or disability can contact the Student Services for Disabilities and DSA of the University of Bologna (http://www.studentidisabili.unibo.it/) and the contact person of the Department (Prof. Giorgio Bencivenni, giorgio.bencivenni2@unibo.it) or the teacher of the course to agree on the most suitable ways to consult the teaching material and access the classrooms for lectures.

Office hours

See the website of Elena Bernardi