CHEM 311 Environmental Chemistry
This course addresses the principles of atmospheric chemistry, the chemistry of climate change, water chemistry, and soil chemistry. During the course of the semester, students will learn the chemistry behind modern challenges to our environment. It will include an examination of the sources, reactions, transport, and fates of different chemical species in the environment. While a variety of topics will be covered during the semester, the following topics will be the main areas of focus: a) atmospheric chemistry and air pollution; b) the chemistry of climate change; c) water chemistry and water pollution; d) hazardous organic compounds; and e) soil chemistry.
First day attendance is mandatory.
Note: Optional to be taken concurrently with CHEM 311L.
Prerequisites
Special information
Note: Optional to be taken concurrently with CHEM 311L.
3 Undergraduate credits
Effective May 10, 2014 to present
Meets graduation requirements for
Learning outcomes
General
- Describe the natural and artificial chemical processes that impact the atmosphere, water, and soil.
- Calculate the rate that important chemical processes occur in the natural environment.
- Review and summarize journal article on issues and topics in environmental chemistry.
- Be able to describe the sources of environmental pollutants and determine the rate that they move through the environment.
- Read and synthesize journal articles on the topic of environmental chemistry.
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum
Goal 3: Natural Sciences
- Demonstrate understanding of scientific theories.
- Formulate and test hypotheses by performing laboratory, simulation, or field experiments in at least two of the natural science disciplines. One of these experimental components should develop, in greater depth, students' laboratory experience in the collection of data, its statistical and graphical analysis, and an appreciation of its sources of error and uncertainty.
- Communicate their experimental findings, analyses, and interpretations both orally and in writing.
- Evaluate societal issues from a natural science perspective, ask questions about the evidence presented, and make informed judgments about science-related topics and policies.
Goal 10: People and the Environment
- Explain the basic structure and function of various natural ecosystems and of human adaptive strategies within those systems.
- Discern patterns and interrelationships of bio-physical and socio-cultural systems.
- Describe the basic institutional arrangements (social, legal, political, economic, religious) that are evolving to deal with environmental and natural resource challenges.
- Evaluate critically environmental and natural resource issues in light of understandings about interrelationships, ecosystems, and institutions.
- Propose and assess alternative solutions to environmental problems.
- Articulate and defend the actions they would take on various environmental issues.
Fall 2025
| Section | Title | Instructor | books | eservices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Environmental Chemistry | Maas, Benjamin | Books for CHEM-311-01 Fall 2025 | Course details for CHEM-311-01 Fall 2025 |