ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY - 1

According to the general training objectives of the Master Degree in Environmental Sciences, the course contributes to shape graduates with multidisciplinary skills able to take action in the prevention, diagnosis and operational resolution of environmental problems.
More specifically, the objective is to provide students with the necessary skills for understanding the chemical, physicochemical and biochemical processes at the basis of matter transformations in both living organisms and environmental matrices, thus providing the basics needed to assess and evaluate the functioning of the environment.

Knowledge and understanding
The student will acquire the knowledge and understanding of the matter transformation processes in both environmental matrices (air, water and soil) and living organisms, deepening the knowledge on the energy and matter cycles, the structural organization at molecular level of animal and vegetable organisms as well as the most important chemical functions for life.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
The student will acquire the ability to assess and evaluate the chemical, physicochemical and biochemical processes at the basis of transformation of the matter in both living organisms and environmental matrices.

Autonomy of judgment
The student will acquire independent judgment on identification and evaluation of the most relevant chemical, physicochemical and biochemical processes for the functioning of the environment.

Communication skills
The student will acquire adequate skills for oral and written communication, supported by appropriate terminology, of the fundamental aspects related to the chemical, physicochemical and biochemical processes at the basis of matter transformations in both living organisms and environmental matrices.

Learning ability
The student will acquire the ability to use the scientific method as working tool.

Basics of chemistry, physics and biology provided by the courses planned in the first and second year of the Bachelor Degree in Environmental Sciences.

The course provides the basic knowledge and skills on environmental chemistry and biochemistry fundamental to understand the functioning of the environment.
More specifically, the following topics will be addressed.
Environmental chemistry of natural processes. Principles of thermodynamics and phase transformations.
Aquatic environment: water properties, physical and chemical composition of natural waters, hydrolysis, acid-base, redox, complexation and chelation reactions; alkalinity and hardness of water, nutrients and eutrophication.
Characteristics and role of solid and colloidal particles in natural waters.
Chemical reactions in the environment catalyzed by microorganisms (biogeochemical cycles of the main elements i.e., carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus).

Slides presented by the teacher and made available in the Moodle platform.
Stanley E. Manahan, Environmental Chemistry: Eleventh Edition, 2024.
Colin Baird, Michael Cann. Chimica ambientale ed. 2013.

Written exam consisting of 1 exercise and 3 open questions to be answered in 2 hours to assess the theoretical knowledge acquired by the student needed to assess and evaluate the functioning of the environment.

written

Each question will be evaluated for a maximum of 8 points, where 8 corresponds to excellent, 7 to very good, 6 to good, 4.5 to sufficient, 3.5 to insufficient and 2 to seriously insufficient.

Lectures and discussion in class.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development