James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2000

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CH2012:03

Environmental Analytical Techniques

Townsville

Prerequisites: CH1000 or (CH1001 CH1002) or (CH1002 CL1010)
Inadmissable Subject Combination: CH2041

36 lectures, 36 hours practicals. Second semester.

Staff: Dr M Ridd, Dr B McCool.

This subject takes a thematic approach to the teaching of analytical and environmental chemistry. It seeks to integrate the study of a number of environmental chemistry topics with the analytical chemistry which underpins their understanding.

The environmental chemistry topics covered in the subject are: atmospheric chemistry including photochemical ozone production, stratospheric ozone depletion, the sulfur cycle; acidification of waters through anthropogenic activities (acid sulfate soils and acid rock drainage); chemical aspects of water quality assessment and management.

Learning Objectives:

  1. development of an appreciation of the underlying chemistry of some important environmental issues;
  2. familiarity with standard procedures for collection, preservation and preparation of samples;
  3. familiarity with standard ‘wet chemical’ methods of analysis, including those used for nutrient analyses;
  4. an understanding of the fundamentals of electroanalytical chemistry and familiarity with field methods based on electrochemical principles;
  5. an understanding of chromatographic techniques and their application;
  6. familiarity with the theory and practice of atomic spectroscopy for the determination of metals.

Assessment by a three-hour examination (70%); practical work (30%).


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