BB828: Aquatic chemistry (5 ECTS)

STADS: 04008501

Level
Master's level course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.
3rd. quater

Teacher responsible
Email: dec@biology.sdu.dk

Additional teachers
sacrowe@biology.sdu.dk

Timetable
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Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
degree in biology, chemistry, or geology.

Course introduction
To give a thorough theoretical and quantitative understanding of the chemical processes controlling the distribution of elements in the environment. This includes an understanding of thermodynamics, kinetics, and redox processes.

Expected learning outcome
At the end of the course the students should be able to:
• Understand the basis behind the two laws of thermodynamics.
• Explain the principle of chemical equilibrium
• Perform activity and mineral saturation states by hand and with computer programs. Apply these calculations to natural settings.
• Discuss the thermodynamics behind oxidation-reduction reactions and perform calculations demonstrating their significance in controlling the chemistry of the environment
• Perform calculations of gas solubility in natural waters as a function of temperature and salt content
• Discuss and quantify the significance of kinetics in controlling the distribution of elements in the environment.
• Discuss how the oceans influence the accumulation of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
• Discuss the principles controlling the interactions of dissolved chemical substances with surfaces and the importance of these interactions in controlling the concentrations of trace metals in the environment
• Perform calculations exploring the carbonate system in nature.
• Discuss the use of sulfur isotopes to understand microbial processes in nature.
• Explain the Dole effect and describe the use of oxygen isotopes to understand the significance photosynthesis and respiration in the oceans.

Subject overview
a) The 2 laws of thermodynamics
b) Gibbs Free Energy and chemical equilibrium
c) chemical activity and calculating activity coefficients
d) the use of computer programs to calculate solubility and saturation state
e) oxidation and reduction in the environment
f) the chemistry of redox sensitive metals
g) gas solubility
h) adsorption and surface processes
i) stable isotope geochemistry
j) chemical kinetics in nature

Literature
There isn't any litterature for the course at the moment.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
a) Mandatory assignments. Pass/fail, internal evaluation by teacher
b) Written exam. Danish 7 mark scale, external examiner

Reexam after 4th. quater.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.

Forelæsninger: 28 timer
Eksaminatorietimer/opgaveregning:14 timer
Educational activities

Language
This course is taught in English.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.