This course examines important environmental problems such as global warming, ozone
depletion, acid rain, air, water and pollution of the earth. For each topic the underlying
chemistry is explored.
Is water conserved on earth? What are the forces and chemical actions that determine the answer to this question? What is pH and what is the origin of acid rain? If a huge reservoir in china has been made acid by industrial activity how is the water characterized and what is the best method for clean up? If an underground gasoline tank leaks in a neighborhood what are the potential environmental effects? How are volatile organic pollutants detected and measured and what is their fate in earth. How effective and what is bioremediation and how does temperature affect the speed of chemical and biological reactions? How do molecules absorb and interact with light and what differences are there between the absorption of sunlight by ozone and by greenhouse gases? How do the laws of chemisty bear on all these questions: the conservation of matter, the conservation of energy, the conservation of charge, the second law of thermodynamics-the propensity of nature to dissorder?
Readings from current sources will be discussed in depth and possible solutions
explored. Besides the scientific component to environmental problems there is a social
and political aspect. The intersection between science and politics will also be
considered where appropriate.
This interdisciplinary course will challenge you to consider and analyze problems
from multiple perspectives, to critique current theories and opinions and to construct
your own, to write cogently and persuasively about your positions, and to understand
the practical relationship of science to our lives.
The course will have, besides a classroom part, an internet component as well where
all information including audio lecturers will be available remotely.
Check the course out now at either:
at either http://chem.brown.edu/chemF1/CHEM-F1.html or at http://jcbmac.chem.brown.edu/chemF1/CHEM-F1.html.
The course is suitable for non-science majors.
CHEM-F1 (June 21-July 10) / James C. Baird, Professor