James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2004

Offerings
View how CH2012 is offered in 2004

(Also shows pre-requisites and inadmissible combinations if applicable)

CH2012:03

Environmental Analytical Techniques

Townsville

HECS Band 2

36 hours lectures, 36 hours practicals. Semester 1 and 2.

Staff:

Dr M Ridd,

Dr B McCool,

Professor R Keene,

visiting Forensic Science lecturer.

This subject takes a thematic approach to the teaching of analytical and environmental chemistry as well as some topics of forensic 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.

The forensic chemistry topics include: basics of evidence collection and preservation, methods of chemical analysis used in forensic chemistry.

A total of 41 lectures will be presented in this subject. 31 of the lectures are core lectures comprising all the analytical chemistry subject matter and all the environmental chemistry subject matter except those pertaining to water quality and acid drainage and must be completed by all students. Students then have a choice of undertaking five lectures in either forensic chemistry or the remaining environmental chemistry lectures.

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 two-hour examination (60%); practical work (30%); assignment (10%).