CHEM324-09W (C) Whole Year 2009

Analytical and Environmental Chemistry

28 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 23 February 2009
End Date: Sunday, 15 November 2009
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 8 March 2009
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 6 September 2009

Description

A critical approach to the fundamentals and use of a wide range of instrumental analytical techniques. Their application in problem-solving, with emphasis on environmental systems. Speciation analysis and modelling. Analysis of trace organics and atmospheric components. Metals in aquatic systems: complexation, absorption and redox processes.

The course content is divided equally between ‘analytical chemistry’ and ‘environmental chemistry’, but the two parts are strongly integrated.

Environmental chemistry is the study of chemistry in the biosphere: the fundamental chemical processes and the impact of humans on these. The course will discuss the significant properties of aquatic systems, with particular reference to trace elements and compounds and the analytical methods for their determination.
Analytical chemistry is the science of measurements in chemical systems. It is problem- driven, with applications typically in ‘real systems’ with complex matrices (e.g. sea water). Analytical chemistry involves an understanding of instrumental techniques: the theory, advantages and limitations, and the quality of the information obtained. It involves consideration of reliability (detection limits, precision), selectivity and sensitivity, validation, method optimisation, improving instrumental capabilities, and correct application of standards. In this course a wide range of applications will be addressed, but the emphasis will be on environmental systems.

The course is generic, embracing aspects of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. Lectures cover a range of methods for trace analysis. Specific topics covered in the course are:

• Techniques for environmental analysis, sample pre-concentration and speciation;
• Spectroscopic techniques: ICP-MS, ETAAS, HGAAS;
• aquatic systems: colloids, complexes and redox processes;
• speciation modelling and measurement;
• electroanalytical techniques;
• trace organic analysis in which two or more analytical instruments are coupled;
• water quality monitoring and quality assurance.

Prerequisites

(1) CHEM223 or CHEM224 or CHEM263; or (2) CHEM233 and either CHEM243 or CHEM273

Restrictions

ENCH444

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Peter Harland

Lecturers

Kip Powell , Alison Downard , Greg Russell and Marie Squire

Guest Lecturer

Kruger, Paul

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Assignment 10%
Exam 50%
Test 1 29 Apr 2009 20%
Test 2 15 Jul 2009 20%

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Skoog, Douglas A. , Holler, F. James., Nieman, Timothy A; Principles of instrumental analysis ; 5th ed; Saunders College Pub. ;, 1998.

On reserve in the library are the following reference texts:
• D.A. Skoog and J.J. Leary, Principles of Instrumental Analysis, 4th ed.
• H.H. Bauer, G.D. Christian and J.E. O’Reilly, Instrumental Analysis
• W. Stumm and J. Morgan, Aquatic Chemistry, 3rd ed.
• J. Drever, The Geochemistry of Natural Waters, 3rd ed.
• D. Langmuir, Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry
• G. Nelson Eby, Principles of Environmental Geochemistry
• Schlesinger WH (1997) Biogeochemistry, an analysis of global change. Academic  Press, San Diego.
• Schlesinger WH (ed) (2005) Biogeochemistry. Vol 8 Treatise on geochemistry (eds. HD Holland & KK Turekian). Elsevier-Pergamon, Oxford. ISBN 0-08-044642-6

Course links

Library portal
Course handout (PDF 115 KB)

Notes

LABORATORIES - This course has no component of laboratory work.
However, because laboratory work is extremely important in environmental and analytical chemistry, it is highly recommended that students also take an appropriate laboratory course in conjunction with this course. The best course to take is CHEM382 (“Instrumental Methods”).

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,159.00

International fee $5,273.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Chemistry .

All CHEM324 Occurrences

  • CHEM324-09W (C) Whole Year 2009