Last modified: 05 Aug 2021 13:04
This advanced course describes how state-of-the-art and conventional analytical techniques can be used to characterise environmental processes. The chemistry of main group and transition elements is also discussed.
Environmental topics covered will include: immobilisation and solubilisation of inorganic contaminants in water, soil and sediments; the determination of the lipophilicity and volatility of organic compounds in the environment; the mobility and toxicity of xenobiotics.
Students will get the opportunity to use state-of-the-art analytical instruments, including chromatographic systems and trace element analysers during the laboratory practicals, which will include project planning and management.
Inorganic topics will include reactions, properties and applications of main group and transition metal compounds.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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For the analytical environmental chemistry component at the end of the course you should be able to:
Measure reactive gases in the atmosphere.
Explain ozone generation and depletion in the atmosphere.
Describe methods for the biodegradation of xenobiotics in soil.
Predict the metal speciation in water.
Explain metal speciation in soil and sediments.
Describe the model of metal affinity to certain ligands and apply these to environmental scenarios.
Recognize the importance of metals in biomolecules
Use conventional and state-of-the-art instrumental analytical instruments, including chromatographic systems and trace element analysers.
Express ideas clearly and logically in writing.For the inorganic chemistry component you should have knowledge and the ability to apply understanding to the following:
Qualitative MO theory to boron hydride clusters.
Using Wade's rules to predict the structures (shapes) of boron hydrides and related compounds.
Reactions, bonding and structure of transition metal carbonyl and other compounds.
Structure-property relationships, d-orbital energies in octahedral, tetrahedral and square-planar complexes.
Crystal-field stabilisation effect; reactive and kinetically inert complexes, Irving-Williams series.
Square-planar complexes, the trans effect.
Racah parameters and the nephelauxetic series.
Covalency in transition metal complexes, molecular orbital treatment, class (a0 and Class (b) (Hard and Soft) donors and acceptors.
Ground-state and dynamic Jahn-Teller effects.
Spectroscopic terms in free ions and in tetrahedral and octrahedral fields.
Spectra of transition metal complexes, weak-field and strong-field cases; interpretation of Tanabe-Sugano diagrams.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
4 x lab reports or assignments - 33%
2 x take home exams (1 in flwexi week and 1 at end of term) - 67%
Alternative Resit Arrangements for students taking course in Academic Year 2020/21
Resit failed exam assessments.
Submit or resubmit missing or failed lab reports or continuous assessments if the lab or CA component overall has been failed.
Alternative Resit Arrangements for students who took the course in Academic Year 2019/20 and C8 students
N/A
There are no assessments for this course.
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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