Approved by Faculty Senate

University Studies Course Approval

Chemistry 320: Environmental Chemistry (Lecture and Lab - 4 s.h.)

An introductory study of current environmental issues, emphasizing the chemistry and chemical interactions underlying these topics. The topics may include, but are not limited to, global warming, depletion of stratospheric ozone, ground level air chemistry and air pollution, organic chemicals in the environment, toxic heavy metals, chemistry of natural waters, and energy production and its environmental consequences. Lecture and Laboratory. Prerequisites: one year of general chemistry or consent of instructor. Offered yearly.

This course includes requirements and learning activities that promote students' abilities to...

a. understand the scientific foundation of the topic;

Requirements: Using the scientific method students are taught to apply chemistry to environmental situations. Many different real world problems are presented and students are expected to learn how to apply their knowledge and the principles of chemistry to solving and understanding chemistry-related phenomena.

Activities: Students are provided with many opportunities to apply the chemistry concepts. Activities include in-class/out-of-class problem solving sessions, one-on-one tutorials, instructor-led and group discussions, and laboratory exercises. A particular example is using the data generated by NASA’s Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) and relating that data to the observed chemical species and physical conditions present in the Antarctic polar spring.

b. understand the social, ethical, historical, and/or political implications;

Requirements: Students are given a historical perspective of the environmental movement and are given the tools to critically evaluate environmental rules, regulations, and propaganda based on an understanding of the chemical concepts.

Activities: Once per week students are required to report on an article of their choice to the rest of the class in a discussion period. The article can be from popular or scientific literature.

c. understand and articulate the need to integrate issues of science with social policy;

Requirements: Students are introduced to specific environmental policies and then study in detail the chemistry related to that particular policy. They are then asked to evaluate different scenarios, taking into account both the science and the policy, which might lead to a different resolution the environmental problem.

Activities: For example, students are taught the mechanism by which greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation. They are then asked to evaluate the relative importance of different greenhouse gases. Recently in Kyoto, Japan a number of the industrialized countries (but not the USA) decided that it would be a good idea to limit the anthropogenic carbon dioxide input into the atmosphere. Why did the USA not go along with this policy decision? Was the US decision based in science, policy, or for some other reason?

e. articulate, choose among, and define various policy and/or scientific options to cope with the challenges created;

Requirements: Students are taught to consider the extreme complexity of natural systems and how trying to remedy one environmental problem with one policy option may cause or exacerbate another concern. Therefore, students are asked to evaluate different policy options and what effects these policies might have both directly and indirectly on the environment.

Activities: Students utilize satellite data collected by NASA’s Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) and compare trends in ozone measurements to the phaseout of CFC’s in the Montreal Protocol of 1987. Why are the polar ozone holes continuing to grow even though the level of chlorine in the atmosphere is dropping? Is there a relation to the increase in greenhouse gases?

Webpage: http://course1.winona.edu/chemistry/mengen

Course Description: Environmental Chemistry (Lecture and Lab - 4 s.h.)

An introductory study of current environmental issues, emphasizing the chemistry and chemical interactions underlying these topics. The topics may include, but are not limited to, global warming, depletion of stratospheric ozone, ground level air chemistry and air pollution, organic chemicals in the environment, toxic heavy metals, chemistry of natural waters, and energy production and its environmental consequences. Lecture and Laboratory. Prerequisites: one year of general chemistry or consent of instructor. Offered yearly.

Lectures: 320 T, Th 11:00-12:20 PA 309

Lab: 320-1 Th 2:00-4:50 PA 304

Text: "Chemistry of the Environment." Spiro and Stigliani, Prentice Hall.

Course Details and Requirements:

In order to do well or pass the course, the student is expected to attend and participate in the lecture-discussion periods, complete and turn in the assigned material, read the assigned chapters, attempt assigned text problems, and pass exams. No make-up exams will be given.

Marking Distribution Grading Scale

Lab 25 % A 88%

Exams (3) 45 % B 76%

Homework and Quizzes 15 % C 64%

Class Participation 15 % D 52%

 Completion of this course will include requirements and learning activities that promote your abilities to achieve the following Outcomes:

a. understand the scientific foundation of the topic;

b. understand the social, ethical, historical, and/or political implications;

c. understand and articulate the need to integrate issues of science with social policy;

d. evaluate the various policy options relevant to the social dilemmas posed by the science;

e. articulate, choose among, and define various policy and/or scientific options to cope with the  
        challenges created;

SAFETY GOGGLES ARE MANDATORY IN THE LABORATORY

Chemistry is a laboratory science that requires active learning. As such, students are required to perform and complete weekly laboratory exercises. You will be required to complete a student directed laboratory investigation, of some environmental concern, utilizing chemical analysis methods. This will require researching the literature, designing sampling plans, sample care and preservation, extraction or clean up of the sample, and finally, a quantitative analysis of the sample for a particular analyte. After quantitative data has been collected you must then critically evaluate the data and present your results, both as a written report and in an oral presentation, to the class. These hands-on investigations will give you an enhanced appreciation and understanding of the process of evaluating contaminants in the environment. Therefore, the completion of these laboratory studies will promote your ability to achieve Outcomes a to e.

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