COURSE PURPOSE
ENSC/CSES/CHEM 4734 examines the processes at the mineral/water interface that control the potential bioavailability of inorganic contaminants in soils. More fundamentally the student will learn how soil mineralogy affects these chemical processes and the inherent difficulty of making accurate predictions of the potential bioavailability of inorganic contaminants in the environment.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of the course, you should be able to do the following:

1. Solid Phase.

Identify the common primary minerals that make up the solid phase and, based on their structure, evaluate their stability and the potential secondary minerals that may form in different weathering environments.

Identify the common secondary minerals and solids that compose soils and, based on their structure, explain their charge characteristics and potential reactivity in the environment.

2. Chemical Processes. Distinguish between ion exchange, adsorption, precipitation, and oxidation/reduction reactions; develop solubility and pH vs. Eh diagrams; and given the chemical and mineralogical properties of a soil determine which of these processes would dominate.

3. Fate of hazardous chemicals. Based on soil characterization data evaluate the potential bioavailability of inorganic chemicals in the environment.

4. Computation. Perform basic analytical chemical, cation exchange, and redox calculations. Use spreadsheets (Excel) and graphic software to solve isotherm problems and to develop relationships among soil chemical processes.

DISABILITIES STATEMENT

If anyone needs special accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please contact me via telephone, electronic mail, or meet with me during office hours, or before or after class.

GRADING

Quizzes 50 points

Approximately 5-6 quizzes will be given during the semester. Each quiz will be worth 10 points (plus bonus points). If 6 quizzes are given you have the option to drop your lowest quiz grade.

Homework 175 points

Problem sets will be assigned for each topic. These will be collected at the end of each topic. Each problem set will be worth 25 points. It is in your best interest to complete the problem sets since the quizzes and tests will be made up of questions very similar to those on the problem sets.

Miscellaneous Assignments 100 points

Miscellaneous Assignments will include the use of chemical speciation programs used in research and in environmental consulting as a writing assignment.  All programs will be provided to the student or are available on-line. The writing assignment will consist of writing an abstract for a published manuscript. Each assignment will be worth 50 points. Click here to download a pdf document on writing abstracts.

4 exams 400 points

There will be four exams during the semester (including the final) each will be worth 100 points. Exams will consist of short answer essays and problems and may be in class or take home. Questions on the exams will only cover material covered in the lectures and on problem sets. Take home exam(s) are to be returned on the day that they are due. Five points will be deducted for each day the exam is turned in after the due date.

Final grades will be based on a total of 645 points. The student has the option to drop the lowest 100 points from the 4 exams (including the final).

Attendance in lecture is strongly encouraged. If a student is borderline between letter grades consideration will be given to class attendance and participation.

All students are expected to abide by the VA Tech honor code and violations will not be tolerated. For information on the University honor code consult the following URL; http://www.honorsystem.vt.edu/index.html

This semester should be an enjoyable learning experience for everyone involved (including myself). I encourage questions/discussions both in and out of the classroom. Please feel free stop by my office anytime.

These pages were last revised on June 26, 2007