Environmental Chemistry-3H
Class Head: Dr. H.J. Duncan
CLASS HANDBOOK
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY HONOURS YEARS 3 AND 4 - OUTLINE OF COURSE
A modular two year honours course consisting of
Lecture/tutorial Modules
Laboratory Modules
Field Work
Project Work
3rd Year Lecture Modules
Analysis of Environmental Materials - Inorganic.
Biogeochemistry
Analysis of Environmental Materials - Chromatography
Water Pollution
Data handling
4th Year Lecture Modules
Radionuclides in the Environment
Atmospheric pollution
Pesticide residues
Lecture Modules Taught in Alternate Years
Odd years
Reclamation of Contaminated and Derelict Land
Plant Nutrient Availability
Humic Substances in the Environment
Pesticide Action
Even years
Organic Waste Materials
Chemistry of Soil Processes
Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in the Environment
Pesticide Metabolism
Third Year Laboratory Modules
Analysis of Environmental Materials - Inorganic.
Chemistry of Soil Processes and Plant Nutrient Availability
Analysis of Environmental Materials - Chromatography.
Data Handling
Chromatography mini project
Soil Chemistry mini project
Field Work Module
There will be a series of nine day trips for field work
in the Glasgow area. These will be held in the third term of
third year and at the start of final year. The primary aims of
this field work will be to practice soil identification
classification and mapping and to examine water quality at Loch
Lomond.
In addition there will be a program of whole and half day
visits to institutions and sites in conjunction with the lecture
modules.
Project
A laboratory research project is carried out in the final
year.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY 3H
COURSE AIMS
This course is the first year of a two year honours degree.
The structure and content of the course are therefore primarily
aimed at developing the potential and qualities of the graduates
who will qualify at the end of the two years.
The objective of the course is to produce graduates who
understand the chemical principles that determine how the natural
environment functions and what happens when it is modified by
man. The course will also provide its graduates with a highly
marketable skill in the chemical analysis of environmental
materials.
ACADEMIC STAFF
Class Head
Dr H J Duncan Room C5-06 Ext 4410
Lecturers
Dr T H Flowers Room C5-05
Dr M C Jarvis Room C5-04
Dr I D Pulford Room C5-07
Dr G B Curry (Geology Dept.)
Dr C D McPhail (SEPA)
Dr B S Miller (SEPA)
Staff (SAC)
External Examiner
Professor R J Hamilton, John Moores University, Liverpool.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Normally a pass in Environmental Chemistry-2 or Chemistry 2.
TIMETABLE
Lectures ( terms 1 and 2 )
Monday Tuesday and Thursday at 10 am,
Monday and Tuesday at 12
Thursday at 12 (first term only)
Friday two lectures at times to be arranged.
Laboratory classes ( terms 1, 2 and 3 )
Tuesday and Thursday 2pm to 5pm,
Wednesday (second term only) 10am to 1pm
Monday or Friday 2pm to 4pm (first term only)
Seminars and afternoon field trips will normally be held on
wednesdays or within the laboratory timetable. Additional field
trips may be organised outwith these times.
Field Work
5 full days in term 3
THE WORK OF THE COURSE
The course work consists of
Lectures and associated reading
Directed reading
Seminars and associated work
Laboratory classes and projects
Laboratory reports
Library project
The research seminar program of the AFE section
Field work
Field trips
1 Class exam
MEDICAL CERTIFICATES
Any student who is absent from any part of the course should
inform the lecturer concerned and fill in an absence notification
form. Where appropriate a medical certificate should be provided
to the Science Faculty office.
COURSE STRUCTURE
Lectures will be taught over two ten week terms.
The lecture course is composed of 4 modules each consisting
of either 10 or 20 lectures and 4 core modules each consisting of
15 lectures. The four 15 lecture modules are from a set of eight
modules which are given in two sets of four modules in alternate
years.
Modules taught each year
Analysis of Environmental Materials (inorganic) 20
Analysis of Environmental Materials (chromatography) 20
Environmental Biogeochemistry 20
Water Pollution 10
Data handling 10
Core modules taught in odd years
Reclamation of Contaminated and Derelict Land 15
Plant Nutrient Availability 15
Humic Substances in the Environment 15
Pesticide Action 15
Core modules taught in even years
Organic Waste Materials 15
Chemistry of Soil Processes 15
Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in the Environment 15
Pesticide Metabolism 15
LABORATORY CLASSES
The program of laboratory classes and field work is designed
to:-
1. support and augment the theoretical background covered in the
lecture modules.
2. teach safe working practices in the chemical laboratory.
3. develop the necessary technical skills for the environmental
chemist.
4. provide hands on experience in the use of a range of
analytical instruments.
5. teach analytical techniques for the environmental chemist.
6. develop independance and initiative in small project work.
7. teach skills in the interpretation of analytical data.
8. develop report writing skills.
Laboratory marks
The laboratory course is an integral part of the course and
marks gained for laboratory work will constitute 20% of the
degree examination mark.
The laboratory reports will normally require some additional
reading and work after the laboratory class. Work may be required
to be written up as a formal laboratory report, a project report
or as an essay in conjunction with a seminar arranged to discuss
the laboratory findings. Laboratory notebooks will also be
assessed.
As the work counts to the final degree all reports must be
handed in to a deadline. Work handed in late may be corrected but
will not be marked.
To ensure consistency in marking all reports for each
laboratory are marked by a single person using a strict marking
scheme laid down by the lecturer in charge. Any queries should be
first discussed with the person marking the report. The lecturer
in charge of the laboratory module will be the final arbiter of
the mark for a report.
At the end of each module the set of laboratory reports and
laboratory notebooks will be given an overall assessment.
Laboratory modules (hours)
Analysis of Environmental Materials 24
Soil Chemistry and Nutrient Availability 36
Data handling workshops 20
Analysis of Environmental Materials (chromatography) 36
Mini Project - Pesticide Analysis 24
Second term Project - pollution 30
Summer term project 2 weeks
Library Project
Training will be given in the use of the library and
searching of the major abstracting journal databases. In the
second term students will be given a topic for reference
searching and preparation of a review paper. An oral presentation
will be made to the class at the end of second term. The final
typed review should be submitted by the end of the first week of
term 3. The review will be assessed by the examining committee as
part of the continuous assessment mark.
Field Work Module
There will be a series of five day trips for field work in
the Glasgow area. These will be held in the third term. The
primary aim of this field work will be to practice soil
identification classification and mapping, and to examine water
quality at Loch Lomond. An oral presentation will also be made.
An assessment will be made of field notebooks and the oral
presentation.
Class Tickets
Class tickets are awarded for satisfactory completion of the
work of the course and are required to allow the student to sit
the degreee examination.
To obtain a class ticket students must fulfil conditions with
respect to performance in the two class examinations,
attendance at laboratory classes and completion of laboratory
reports and tutorial assignments.
1. Students who attain an average mark of 25% or more in the
class examination will be considered to have achieved the
necessary level of performance in that component of the
requirements without further review. Borderline cases will be
reviewed individually by the examination committee.
2. Attendance at laboratory classes is compulsory and all
absences must be accounted for. Satisfactory attendance at
laboratory classes and completion of laboratory and tutorial
assignments is a condition for the award of a class ticket.
Attendances will be reviewed continuously and students whose
attendance falls below the required standard will be notified.
Failure to improve performance may result in the withholding of a
class ticket.
EXEMPTIONS
Exemptions are not awarded at this level.
CLASS EXAMINATION
There will be one class examination, which will be held in
the first week of second term.
The format will be a 2 hour exam paper containing 4
questions. The student will be required to answer 3 question. The
range of material examinable will be the 4 lecture modules
covered in first term and any associated laboratory work.
DEGREE EXAMINATIONS
There will be three 3 hour written papers and an assessment of
practical work. The marks gained for laboratory work during the
year will count for 20% of the Final Degree Examination mark.
All marks awarded for laboratory aand other assessed work
are strictly provisional and for your guidance only. The marks
are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and the
external examiner at the end of the year. You must retain copies
of all marked work as you will be expected to submit them for
examination at the end of the year.
Paper 1
The paper will consist of four sections each containing 2
questions. Four questions to be answered, one from each section.
Each section will cover one of the four 15 lecture core modules
taken plus associated laboratory work and reading.
Paper 2
The paper will be in two sections each of three questions.
Four questions to be answered, at least one from each section.
The sections will cover the two 20 lecture modules on the
analysis of environmental materials plus associated laboratory
work and reading.
Paper 3
The paper will be in two sections each of three questions.
Four questions to be answered, at least one from each section.
The sections will cover the Biogeochemistry module and the Water
Pollution module plus associated laboratory, project and field
work.
Exam Paper Marking
The papers are marked by a team of examiners including the
external examiner. Marking of degree examinations is anonymous.
Each question is first marked by the lecturer setting the
question and then checked by a second marker. The marks for each
candidate are totalled, grades assigned and borderline cases
identified. Each student's final grade is considered individually
at an examiners' meeting and by the external examiner. Periods of
illness covered by a medical certificate are considered at these
meetings. In the event of a difference of opinion between the
examiners the external examiner is the final arbiter.
Interpretation of Grades
The grade bands vary slightly from year to year depending on
the difficulty of the papers. The pass mark is normally 50% or
just below, again depending on the difficulty of the papers.
A Excellent
B Very good
C Good
D Pass at Special level
E Pass at Ordinary level
F Fail
G Fail
STUDENT FEEDBACK
Student opinion on course content and presentation is
welcomed either informally or through the staff-student
committee. Feedback is obtained through 2 formal questionnaires
and informal discussion sessions.
STAFF STUDENT COMMITTEE
The AFE/EC staff-student committee will normally meet a week
prior to each Chemistry Department staff-student committee
meeting to which it will send one staff and one student
representitive.
The student representitives of the AFE/EC staff student
committee will be made up as follows
Environmental Chemistry L2 2
Environmental Chemistry 3H/4H 2
AFE Chemistry 3H/4H 2
Environmental Biogeochemistry 3H/4H 2
MSc Courses 1
TEXTBOOKS
Information on textbooks will be supplied with each
lecture or laboratory module.
CHARGE FOR LAB MANUALS, LECTURE HANDOUTS ETC.
A charge of £10 will be made at the start of the year to
cover the cost laboratory manuals lecture handouts etc.
Return to Undergraduate Courses .