Environmental Chemistry

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Provides a comprehensive, balanced introduction to this multi-disciplinary area of chemistry. Intended not only for chemists, but also for environmental and other science students, this text carefully introduces the chemistry needed to fully appreciate this subject, placing it in an applied and practical setting.
Written in an accessible and readable style, the book assumes only a basic knowledge of chemistry, with the more advanced chemical concepts carefully introduced as needed. Opening with a general introduction to the subject and the practical skills that need to be known, the text then moves on to cover areas of specific interest to environmental chemists. Each chapter starts by covering the theory and concepts, and then describes a selection of experiments that can be undertaken.
* Provides a comprehensive introduction to environmental chemistry covering all the key areas
* Includes a balanced coverage of both theoretical and experimental aspects
* Maintains a careful and logically-structured approach, with theory being covered first, followed by laboratory experiments and student problems
* Assumes only a basic knowledge of chemistry, with more advanced concepts introduced as needed
This book will be invaluable to students in the chemical and environmental sciences, as well as engineering, physical, life and earth science students interested in environmental chemistry.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface (p. xvii)
• 1 Concepts and Skills in Environmental Chemistry (p. 1)
• 1.1 Introduction (p. 1)
• 1.2 The Importance of Units (p. 1)
• 1.2.1 Conversions between units (p. 3)
• 1.3 Relative Atomic Mass (p. 3)
• 1.4 The Mole (p. 5)
• 1.5 Relative Molecular Mass (p. 5)
• 1.6 Molar Mass (p. 5)
• 1.7 Chemical Reactions and Equations (p. 6)
• 1.7.1 Balancing chemical equations (p. 8)
• 1.8 Stoichiometry (p. 10)
• 1.9 Types of Reactions (p. 12)
• 1.9.1 Acid--base reactions (p. 12)
• 1.9.2 Oxidation--reduction reactions (p. 12)
• 1.9.3 Precipitate formation (p. 13)
• 1.9.4 Complex formation (p. 13)
• 1.10 Solutions (p. 14)
• 1.10.1 Molar solutions (p. 14)
• 1.10.2 Standard solutions (p. 15)
• 1.10.3 Preparation of standard solutions (p. 15)
• 1.11 Weighing Chemicals (p. 16)
• 1.12 Diluting Samples and Standards (p. 17)
• 1.13 Performing a Titration (p. 19)
• 1.14 Calibration Procedures (p. 20)
• 1.15 Blank Determinations (p. 22)
• 1.16 Precision and Accuracy (p. 22)
• 1.17 Errors (p. 23)
• 1.18 Sensitivity (p. 24)
• 1.19 Detection Limits (p. 25)
• 1.20 Significant Figures and Rounding (p. 25)
• 1.21 Summary (p. 27)
• Self-Study Exercises (p. 27)
• Challenging Exercises (p. 33)
• 2 Laboratories for Environmental Chemistry (p. 35)
• 2.1 Introduction (p. 35)
• 2.2 A Typical Laboratory for Environmental Chemistry (p. 36)
• 2.3 Laboratory Equipment (p. 39)
• 2.4 Health and Safety in the Laboratory (p. 39)
• 2.4.1 Introduction (p. 39)
• 2.4.2 Laboratory safety (p. 43)
• 2.5 Laboratory Technicians (p. 48)
• 2.6 Emergency First Aid (p. 48)
• 2.7 The Laboratory Notebook (p. 49)
• 2.7.1 The purpose of your notebook (p. 50)
• 2.7.2 Keeping your laboratory notebook (p. 50)
• 2.8 Summary (p. 53)
• Self-Study Exercises (p. 53)
• Challenging Exercises (p. 54)
• 3 Laboratory Report Writing (p. 57)
• 3.1 Introduction (p. 57)
• 3.2 Effective Scientific Writing (p. 58)
• 3.3 Grammar and Style (p. 59)
• 3.4 Presentation and Format (p. 59)
• 3.5 Units, Symbols and Quantities (p. 60)
• 3.6 Scientific Nomenclature (p. 60)
• 3.7 Pagination (p. 60)
• 3.8 Structure of the Laboratory Report (p. 60)
• 3.8.1 Aims and objectives of the experiment (p. 61)
• 3.8.2 General introduction (p. 61)
• 3.8.3 Materials and methods (p. 62)
• 3.8.4 Reporting results (p. 73)
• 3.8.5 General discussion (p. 74)
• 3.8.6 Conclusions (p. 74)
• 3.8.7 References (p. 74)
• 3.9 Plagiarism (p. 76)
• 3.10 Deadlines (p. 77)
• 3.11 Summary (p. 77)
• Self-Study Exercises (p. 77)
• Challenging Exercises (p. 78)
• References (p. 79)
• 4 The Structure and Composition of the Earth
• 4.1 Introduction (p. 81)
• 4.2 Structure of the Earth (p. 82)
• 4.2.1 The solid material (The internal structure of the earth) (p. 82)
• 4.2.2 The hydrosphere (p. 86)
• 4.2.3 The atmosphere (p. 86)
• 4.2.4 Air pollutants (p. 89)
• 4.2.5 The biosphere (p. 91)
• 4.3 Chemical Bonds (p. 91)
• 4.3.1 Ionic bonding (p. 93)
• 4.3.2 Covalent bonding (p. 95)
• 4.3.3 Complex ions (p. 98)
• 4.3.4 Metallic bonding (p. 99)
• 4.4 Electronegativity (p. 100)
• 4.5 The Shapes of Molecules and Ions (p. 101)
• 4.6 The Structures of Metallic Crystals (p. 105)
• 4.7 The Structures of Ionic Crystals (p. 108)
• 4.8 Bonding in Silicates, Aluminates and Aluminosilicates (p. 109)
• 4.9 Isomorphism and Polymorphism (p. 111)
• 4.10 Classification of Silicate Structures (p. 112)
• 4.10.1 Orthosilicates (p. 112)
• 4.10.2 Disilicates (p. 114)
• 4.10.3 Ring structures (meta-silicates or cyclosilicates) (p. 115)
• 4.10.4 Single chains of indefinite extent (pyroxenes or chain silicates) (p. 115)
• 4.10.5 Double chains of indefinite extent (amphiboles or band silicates) (p. 117)
• 4.10.6 Layer or sheet silicate structures (phyllosilicates) (p. 118)
• 4.10.7 Framework silicates (tektosilicates) (p. 122)
• 4.11 Ion-Exchange Processes in Clay Minerals and Soil (p. 123)
• 4.12 Weathering Processes (p. 125)
• 4.12.1 Physical (or mechanical) weathering (p. 125)
• 4.12.2 Chemical weathering (p. 126)
• 4.12.3 Chemical weathering mechanisms (p. 126)
• 4.13 The Composition and Properties of Soil (p. 130)
• 4.13.1 Soil solutions (p. 133)
• 4.13.2 Soil erosion (p. 134)
• 4.13.3 Soil fertility (p. 134)
• 4.13.4 Soil contamination (p. 135)
• 4.14 Summary (p. 136)
• Experiment 4.1 Determination of Soil pH (p. 136)
• Experiment 4.2 Determination of the Organic Matter Content of Soil (p. 139)
• Experiment 4.3 Study of the Cation Exchange Capacity of Soil (p. 146)
• Self-Study Exercises (p. 151)
• Challenging Exercises (p. 155)
• Further Sources of Information (p. 156)
• 5 Earth's Vital Resources--Minerals, Metals and Fossil Fuels (p. 159)
• 5.1 Introduction (p. 159)
• 5.2 Mineral, Metal and Fuel Resources (p. 161)
• 5.3 The Chemistry of Metal Ore Formation (p. 163)
• 5.3.1 Cooling and heating processes (p. 163)
• 5.3.2 Weathering processes (p. 164)
• 5.3.3 Oxidation and reduction processes (p. 164)
• 5.4 The Chemistry of Metal Extraction Processes (p. 165)
• 5.4.1 Chemical reduction (p. 171)
• 5.5 Extraction Technology for Selected Metals (p. 176)
• 5.5.1 Extraction of s-block metals (p. 176)
• 5.5.2 Extraction of d-block elements (p. 179)
• 5.5.3 Extraction of aluminium (p. 185)
• 5.5.4 Extraction of manganese (p. 187)
• 5.6 Environmental Warfare--the Corrosion of Metals (p. 188)
• 5.6.1 Corrosion chemistry (p. 189)
• 5.6.2 Corrosion protection (p. 192)
• 5.7 Fossil Fuels (p. 197)
• 5.7.1 The formation and classification of coal (p. 197)
• 5.7.2 Formation and accumulation of oil (petroleum) (p. 200)
• 5.7.3 Formation and accumulation of natural gas (p. 202)
• 5.7.4 Uses of coal, oil and natural gas (p. 202)
• 5.7.5 Crude oil and the environment (p. 203)
• 5.8 Summary (p. 205)
• Experiment 5.1 Spectrophotometric Determination of Iron in Water (p. 206)
• Experiment 5.2 Determination of Sodium and Potassium in Water Samples by Flame Photometry (p. 209)
• Experiment 5.3 Determination of Phenols in River Water by UV--Visible Spectrophotometry (p. 211)
• Self-Study Exercises (p. 215)
• Challenging Exercises (p. 219)
• Further Sources of Information (p. 220)
• 6 Natural Cycles (p. 223)
• 6.1 Introduction (p. 223)
• 6.2 Iron (p. 225)
• 6.2.1 Abundance and properties (p. 225)
• 6.2.2 Cycling of iron (p. 227)
• 6.2.3 Iron in biological and environmental systems (p. 230)
• 6.2.4 Uses of iron (p. 232)
• 6.3 Carbon (p. 232)
• 6.3.1 Abundance and properties (p. 232)
• 6.3.2 Cycling of carbon (p. 233)
• 6.3.3 Anthropogenic effects on the carbon cycle (p. 236)
• 6.3.4 Uses of carbon (p. 237)
• 6.4 Nitrogen (p. 238)
• 6.4.1 Abundance and properties (p. 238)
• 6.4.2 Cycling of nitrogen (p. 239)
• 6.4.3 Nitrogen and the environment (p. 241)
• 6.5 Oxygen (p. 243)
• 6.5.1 Abundance and properties (p. 243)
• 6.5.2 Cycling of oxygen (p. 244)
• 6.5.3 Uses of oxygen (p. 250)
• 6.6 Phosphorus (p. 250)
• 6.6.1 Abundance and properties (p. 250)
• 6.6.2 Cycling of phosphorus (p. 252)
• 6.6.3 Phosphorus in biological and environmental systems (p. 254)
• 6.6.4 Uses of phosphorus (p. 256)
• 6.7 Sulfur (p. 256)
• 6.7.1 Abundance and properties (p. 256)
• 6.7.2 Cycling of sulfur (p. 258)
• 6.7.3 Sulfur and the environment (p. 260)
• 6.7.4 Uses of sulfur (p. 263)
• 6.8 Summary (p. 263)
• Experiment 6.1 Determination of Ammonia by Nessler's Method (p. 264)
• Experiment 6.2 Determination of the Phosphate Levels in Clean and Polluted Waters (p. 266)
• Experiment 6.3 Biochemical Oxygen Demand using Winkler's Method (p. 270)
• Experiment 6.4 Determination of Chemical Oxygen Demand in Water Samples (p. 276)
• Self-Study Exercises (p. 280)
• Challenging Exercises (p. 285)
• Further Sources of Information (p. 286)
• 7 Water--The Lifeblood of the Earth (p. 289)
• 7.1 Introduction (p. 289)
• 7.2 Types of Water (p. 291)
• 7.2.1 Surface water (p. 292)
• 7.2.2 Groundwater (p. 294)
• 7.2.3 Precipitation (p. 295)
• 7.3 The Water Cycle (p. 296)
• 7.3.1 Impurities in water (p. 298)
• 7.4 Properties of Water (p. 299)
• 7.4.1 Solvent ability (p. 299)
• 7.4.2 Hydrogen bonding (p. 300)
• 7.4.3 Surface tension (p. 302)
• 7.4.4 Self-ionization of water (p. 303)
• 7.5 Properties of Solutions (p. 303)
• 7.5.1 Dependence of solubility on temperature (p. 303)
• 7.5.2 Dependence of solubility on the nature of a solvent (p. 304)
• 7.6 Colligative Properties of Solutions (p. 305)
• 7.6.1 Lowering of vapour pressure (p. 306)
• 7.6.2 Depression of freezing point (p. 308)
• 7.6.3 Elevation of boiling point (p. 309)
• 7.6.4 Osmotic pressure (p. 309)
• 7.7 Solution Equilibria (p. 311)
• 7.8 Solubility Product (p. 316)
• 7.9 Acids and Bases (p. 319)
• 7.10 Buffer Solutions (p. 320)
• 7.11 Water Pollution (p. 323)
• 7.11.1 Acid precipitation (p. 324)
• 7.11.2 The effects of acid precipitation (p. 327)
• 7.12 Water Quality (p. 331)
• 7.12.1 Inland waters (p. 331)
• 7.12.2 Coastal and marine water quality (p. 332)
• 7.13 Summary (p. 334)
• Experiment 7.1 Determination of Hardness in Water (p. 335)
• Experiment 7.2 Investigation of the Carbonate--Bicarbonate System (Alkalinity of Aqueous Systems) (p. 338)
• Experiment 7.3 Cation Concentration of River Water by Ion Exchange (p. 344)
• Experiment 7.4 Methods of Chloride Determination (p. 348)
• Self-Study Exercises (p. 352)
• Challenging Exercises (p. 357)
• References (p. 357)
• Further Sources of Information (p. 357)
• Glossary (p. 359)
• Useful Addresses (p. 371)
• Index (p. 375)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Dr. Ian I. Williams is the author of Environmental Chemistry: A Modular Approach, published by Wiley.