Chemical cycling is integral to many global processes: water cycling sustains life, mineral nutrients move from rocks to open oceans, carbon cycling regulates climate, and weather and water transports synthetic compounds from pole to pole. This course will apply basic chemical principles (thermodynamics, kinetics, redox, acid-base chemistry, solubility, etc.) to develop students’ understanding of chemistry in lakes, streams, oceans, and soils. Students will integrate concepts from chemistry, biology, geology, physics, environmental science and humanities to evaluate case studies such as: CO2 cycling in oceans, nutrient pollution in lakes and streams, biouptake of nutrients and pollutants, and drinking water disinfection.
Chemistry 125, 126, 135 and 136 (or Chemistry 140); and sophomore status or above.