Principles of environmental chemistry

Course objectives

This module aims at expanding the fundamental knowledge of general inorganic and organic chemistry, giving students a essential knowledge of the various forms of pollution and the basics for understanding the mechanisms that regulate the chemical reactions of substances involved.After completing this course the student will be able to approach – in team with area experts – environmental questions linked to knowledge, determination and treatment of different air, water and soil pollutants (acid rains, noxious gases, toxic organics recalcitrants, heavy metals) and related to the knowledge of oxidative processes of metal corrosion (engineering works, conservation of cultural goods).

Channel 1
RITA PETRUCCI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Chemical Bonds. Structure and shape of molecules. Coordination compounds: formation constants; structure, color and magnetism; occurrence in the environment. Organic Chemistry: aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons: nomenclature, isomerism. Functional groups. Property and reactivity of most important functional groups. Instrumental analytical methods: chromatography, UV-Vis, IR and MS spectrometry. Environmental Chemistry: Stratospheric chemistry: the chemistry of ozone depletion. The acid rain. The greenhouse effect. Particulates in air pollution. Tropospheric chemistry: gaseous molecules of environmental interest. Organic pollutants: dioxins, PCBs, furans, PAHs, pesticides, environmental estrogens.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge og general chemistry
Frequency
not mandatory, recommended
Exam mode
Oral examination. A term paper on a matter of interest.
Lesson mode
Presentation of the course about contents, teaching and didactic material available online, textbook, examination date and procedures. Lectures, also performed through audiovisual media such as ppt presentations available online from the beginning of the course.
  • Lesson code1021791
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseEnvironmental Engineering
  • CurriculumIngegneria per l' Ambiente e il Territorio - Tutela dell'ambiente
  • Year1st year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • SSDCHIM/07
  • CFU6