CH2012:03
Environmental Analytical Techniques
| Townsville | HECS Band 2 |
36 hours lectures, 36 hours practicals. Semester 2.
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 that underpins their understanding. Major topics of analytical chemistry covered include: an introduction to the principles and practice of quantitative analysis; titrimetric and gravimetric analysis; electrochemical techniques, theory of and introduction to the practice of chromatography; atomic spectroscopy.
The environmental chemistry topics covered in the subject are: atmospheric chemistry including photochemical ozone production and stratospheric ozone depletion; acidification of waters through anthropogenic activities (acid sulfate soils and acid rock drainage); chemical aspects of water quality assessment and management.
Learning Objectives:
- development of an appreciation of the underlying chemistry of some important environmental issues;
- familiarity with standard procedures for collection, preservation and preparation of samples;
- familiarity with standard ‘wet chemical’ methods of analysis, including those used for nutrient analyses;
- an understanding of the fundamentals of electroanalytical chemistry and familiarity with field methods based on electrochemical principles;
- an understanding of chromatographic techniques and their application;
- familiarity with the theory and practice of atomic spectroscopy for the determination of metals.
Assessment by a three-hour examination (70%); practical work (30%).