ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

According to the general training objectives of the Master Degree in Environmental Engineering for the Ecological Transition, 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. The course will also provide students with the necessary skills for understanding the dynamic (primary and secondary sources, transport, transformation and ultimate fate) of chemicals occurring in the environment. Special attention will be devoted to persistent, toxic and bioaccumulative substances and materials.

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. Student will also acquire the knowledge and understanding of chemical and chemical-physical properties of main classes of environmental hazardous chemicals, chemodynamic, chemical aspects of environmental changes at local-to-global scales.

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. The student will also acquire the ability to assess quantitatively the occurrence and behavior of chemical substances in the environment,

Ability to judge
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, and on the evaluation of exposure to environmental chemicals by the integrated knowledge concerning their input, behavior and effects.

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, and of the occurrence and behavior of environmental chemicals.

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

Fundamentals of chemistry and physic, provided by courses delivered in the first year of the Bachelor Degree in Environmental Engineering for the Ecological Transition.

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. 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. Geosphere and soil chemistry: chemical composition and physicochemical processes in soils: acid-base and ion exchange reactions; macro- and micro-nutrients and absorption and biodegradation processes of organic matter.
Atmosphere and chemistry of the atmosphere: energy and matter transfers, chemical composition and physicochemical processes in the atmosphere; Chemical reactions in the environment catalyzed by microorganisms (biogeochemical cycles of the main elements i.e., carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus), Chemical contaminants of the PBT (Persistent, Bioaccumulative, Toxic) type in air, waters and soil, partitioning of chemicals among environmental media and bioaccumulation.

Compulsory:
Slides presented by the teacher and made available in the Moodle platform.
Stanley E. Manahan, Environmental Chemistry, Lewis Publisher, 2024.
Colin Baird & Michael Cann, Chimica Ambientale, Zanichelli, 2013.

Written examination.
Written exam will consist of 3 open questions concerning course subjects and 1 exercise.

written

The exams will be graded from 0 to 30 cum laude, with a passing threshold of 18 points.

The work will be evaluated on the basis of completeness and clarity of the answers, and on the use of appropriate language and terms.
For the questions of the written exam, max 8 points each are assigned, where: 8 corresponds to excellent; 7 to very good; 6 to good; 5 to sufficient; 4 to insufficient; 3 to seriously insufficient.

For the overall evaluation of the work:
Scores in the range 18-21 range: superficial knowledge of the topics covered in the classes; unclear and lacking in technical terminology.
Scores in the range 22-25: not always in-depth knowledge of the topics covered in the classes; orderly presentation but with not always correct use of technical terminology;
Scores in the range 26-27: good knowledge of the topics covered in the classes; fair ability to organize information and present it; familiarity with technical terminology;
Scores in the range 28-30: excellent mastery of the topics covered in the classes; ability to prioritize information and correct use of appropriate technical terminology.

Honors will be awarded in the presence of excellent judgment and communication ability, and excellent understanding of the program's topics.

Classroom lectures, exercises 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