Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

The University of Connecticut - Storrs

Course Outline for

CE-390 Environmental Engineering Chemistry - I

Fall 1997



Instructor: Dr. Nikolaos P. Nikolaidis

Office: FLC Rm 318

e-mail: nikos@eng2.uconn.edu

Homepage: http://www.eng2.uconn.edu/cee/bio/Nikolaidis.html

Office Hours: M 4:00 - 5:00 PM or by appointment

Lecture: M 5:00 - 8:00 PM, FLC 204


Topic (Class Periods)

1. Global Geochemical Cycles (1)

- Mass Balance Concept

- Stoichiometry Concept


2. Carbonate Equilibria: Defining the pH of Natural Waters (4)

- Mass Action Law for 3 Phases

- Open and Closed Systems: Lakes vs Groundwater

- Carbon Speciation in Solution and Intensity Factors

- Alkalinity: Chemical Capacity and Buffering Concepts

Exam I October 6, 1997

3. Genesis of Natural Water Composition (2)

- Mass Action Law and Equilibrium Constants

- Determining Spontaneity of Reactions

- Chemical Activity and Ionic Strength Concepts

- How to choose between Thermodynamics and Chemical Kinetics?


4. Fate of Metals in the Environment (2)

- Metal Hydrolysis and Complexation

- Conditional Constants

- Organic Complexation (Strong and Weak Ligands)

- Carbonate and Other Inorganic Ligands

- Competitive Ligand Binding


5. Interaction of Aqueous Solutions with Precipitates and Soils (1)

- Solubility and Sorption (Surface Complexation)

- Solubility Product

- Ion Activity vs pH

- Effect of Hydrolysis on Solubility

- Common Ion Effect

- Effect of Aqueous Speciation on Solubility

- Surface Complex Formation (Protonation and Deprotonation)




Exam II November 10, 1997
Thanksgiving Recess November 26 - 30, 1997

6. Redox Geochemistry: Chromium Pollution of Ground Water (3)

- Electron as a Chemical Component

- Coupling Half Reactions

- Redox States and Charge Balance

- Redox Equilibrium, Capacity and Titrations (pe Scales)

- Heterogeneous Reaction and Cycles

- Non-standard Activities

Final Exam December 8, 1997



Textbooks:

V.L. Snoeyink and D. Jenkins , Water Chemistry, Wiley Interscience, 1980.

W. Stumm and J.J. Morgan, Aquatic Chemistry, Wiley Interscience, 1996.


Grading System:

If your overall grade is within the ranges below, then the respective letter grade will be: A> 90%, 80%<B<90%, 70%<C<80%, 60%<D<70. The letter grade ranges could change depending on the perfomance of the class.

Assignments 25%

Exam I 25%

Exam II 25%

Final Exam 25%


Homework Policy: You will be assigned 8 homework assignments. All homework assignments should be submitted. Failure to submit homework assignments and projects will result in a lower grade. You should work in groups and try to maximize your understanding of the material.



Class Motto:

1. Team Work to Maximize Learning

2. Keep Asking Questions

3. Don't Leave Questions Unanswered


e-mail: nikos@eng2.uconn.edu