Course Details in 2023/24 Session

Module Title	LC From Molecules to Materials: deconstructing the environment
School	School of Geog Earth & Env Sci
Department	Earth and Environ Sciences
Module Code	03 30019
Module Lead	Zhiling Guo
Level	Certificate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-20 hours Tutorial-5 hours Practical Classes and workshops-15 hours Guided independent study-160 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	The module provides an introduction to the fundamental building blocks of matter and how they interact to provide a habitable and functioning environment. Focus will be on deconstructing the building blocks of the environment in order to understand how they fit together. Theoretical concepts will be introduced in lectures and through online resources, and their application demonstrated within an environmental context through laboratory practicals and in-class problem-solving exercises. Specific environmental and geological topics covered include: The unique properties of water that enable life; The environmental behaviour of specific elements and classes of compounds; Biogeochemical cycles (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus; mercury); Important classes of chemical reactions in the environment, such as acid-base and redox reactions; Radioactive decay and the application of stable and unstable isotopes in geochemistry and pollution monitoring; Chemistry of rocks, soils and sediments, and natural waters; Carbon chemistry including functional groups, polymers, surfactants, pesticides; Colloids and nanoparticles; Further important examples of chemical reactions in the environment, such as redox reactions as applied in wastewater treatment (for example).
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Understand key concepts such as bonding, reactivity, states of matter, reaction kinetics. Write/balance chemical equations and use periodic table to calculate formulas, moles etc. Show an understanding of acid-base and redox reactions, pH, and their implications for environmental and geological processes. Appreciate the reactivity and structure of selected environmentally important elements & pollutants and understand how they are cycled within environmental compartments. Show an awareness of common isotopes, radioactive decay processes, and their application to environmental science. Show a basic understanding of the natural and anthropogenic processes affecting atmospheric, soil and aquatic composition. Perform prescribed laboratory experiments with a high degree of accuracy and understanding, including analysing and reporting data and the use of data to support a hypothesis.
Assessment	30019-07 : Laboratory Practical Write Up : Coursework (50%) 30019-08 : Coursework Questions : Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessments: 1 x Laboratory Practical Write-Up (50%; 5 practicals must be written up, one of which will be chosen for marking) Coursework exercises at three stages during the module (50% in total) Reassessment: by submission of failed components
Other
Reading List