2.0

Average Course Rating

This course explores the complex interactions of earth’s rock, soil, water, air, and life systems that determine the chemical characteristics of our environment. The themes of the course cover: mobility of the elements (dispersibility and bioavailability); evaluation and monitoring of heavy metal pollution; remediation (repair of compromised environments) water quality (natural waters and water for drinking, agricultural and industrial use); pollutant agents in water, air and soil; wastes (mine wastes, radioactive wastes, urban wastes); interactions between geochemistry and human health and the environment. Course content is largely based on applied environmental geochemistry, with supporting content in theoretical geochemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology. A class project involves chemical analysis of student-collected water samples.