Ateneo - UPO

This course describes the fundamental chemical principles which underpin the natural processes occurring within and between the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the lithosphere. The effect of human activities on these processes is also discussed, with special focus on the effects of the increasing global demand of energy produced by non-renewable sources. Finally, the main classes of pollutants are discussed in terms of relationships between their physico-chemical properties and their interactions with the environmental spheres.

Lecture notes and presentation will be made available on the online learning platform.Recommended textbooks:1). C. Baird, M. Cann “Chimica Ambientale” terza ed. italiana, Zanichelli, 2013 (in Italian)2). S. E. Manahan “Chimica Ambientale”, 2 ed. Piccin-Nuova Libraria, 2024 (in Italian)3). C. Baird, M. Cann “Environmental Chemistry” 5th ed. 2015 (in English)4). G.W. van Loon, S.J. Duffy “Environmental Chemistry”, 3rd edition, Oxford, 2010 (in English)

- To build a solid knowledge foundation about the concepts underlying the chemistry of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and pollution; to link the chemical properties of pollutants with i) their mobility/availability within and between the environmental compartments, ii) their bio-availability and iii) their ecotoxicological potential.
- To foster the ability of applying knowledge to assess critically and autonomously the potential environmental impact of chemical processes linked to human activities or chemical species that are released into the environment
- To develop communications skills by addressing the appropriate chemical language to describe environmental chemistry themes.

Fundamentals of general chemistry and analytical chemistry.

Classroom lectures

A number of “Fermi questions” will be asked to the students and discussed in the classroom at selected turning points. Such questions aim at using the fundamental concepts learnt during the course to make approximate estimations about global consequences of environmental perturbations. For instance, a scenario for the global increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide will be worked out by considering i) the increasing world energy demand (from survey tables), ii) the share of energy production by fossil and renewable fuels, and iii) by applying the concepts about the environmental carbon cycle and sinks.

The assessment method employed in this course consist of a written exam. The exam will comprise a total of nine questions covering various topics addressed throughout the course. These questions may be in the form of multiple-choice (with four options) or open-ended questions, as indicated below:
A minimum of four questions (mixed among open and multiple choice questions) to assess knowledge and understanding;
A minimum of one question to assess the ability to apply knowledge and understanding. This question takes the form of a numerical exercise such as those discussed during the course (thermochemistry, units in solution and the gas phase, or solution equilibrium);
A minmum of one question to assess communication skill (strictly an open question).
A model exam paper is given at the end of the course.

Module 1: Chemistry of the atmosphere. Chemical composition and structure of the atmosphere, principles of reaction kinetics and photochemistry; chemical and photochemical reactions in the atmosphere; stratosphere and the ozone layer; ozone hole. Module 2: Chemistry of the troposphere; sources and reactions of inorganic (CO, SO2, NOx, ammonia, halogen-containing compounds) and organic (hydrocarbons, VOCs, CFC) pollutants in the atmosphere; photochemical smog; atmospheric particulate matter. Module 3: Greenhouse effect and global climate changes. Biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur. Module 4: Nonrenewable energy resources and their impact on atmospheric pollution; renewable energy resources and the hydrogen economy. Module 5: Chemistry of the hydrosphere. Fundamentals, acid-base equilibria and the carbonate system, solubility equilibria, colloids, dissolved organic matter, dissolved oxygen, redox reactions, two-variables pE-pH diagrams. Module 6: Chemistry of pollution. Organic environmental pollutants and their chemico-physical properties: solubility, biodegradation, bioconcentration, bioavailability, biomagnification, speciation, persistency, ecotoxicology. Organic pollutants: pesticides, dioxins, furans, PCBs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, emerging pollutants; PFAS, microplastics.Module 7: Inorganic pollutants, toxicity of major heavy metals, organometallics; Hg, Pb, Cr, Cd, As.

Students are expected i) to be familiar with the basic concepts in environmental chemistry; ii) to be able to apply such concepts for the assessment of the potential environmental impact of human activities; iii) to be able to discuss environmental chemistry themes with appropriate technical language; iv) to be familiar with bibliographic resources for a future, autonomous deeper learning of specific aspects in environmental chemistry.