Rafik HARIRI UNIVERSITY

COURSE OUTLINE
TERM: Fall 2013
COURSE NO:
CHEM 211
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. M. A. Halablab
COURSE NAME: Environmental Chemistry
Office Hours: TTh 10:00-11:00 am
Block I
Course Description: Ethics class provides an opportunity to develop an understanding of several basic
environmental functions, the complicated nature of environmental systems, and the need for
multidisciplinary solutions to environmental problems. Topics covered: the hydrosphere, water quantity &
quality, soil and the soil Ecosystem,
Biological resources, Waste disposal, Air Pollution, Ozone Depletion, Acid Rain, Global Warming,
Agriculture, and Toxicology.
Evaluation Profile
15% Exam 1
15% Exam 2
10% Quizzes
20% Assignment
40% Final Exam
GRADING PROFILE:
A+
B+
C+
CD

95 100
86 89
77 79
70 72
60 64

A
B
C
D+
F

90 94
80 85
73 76
65 69
0 59

Recommended Book:
Environmental Chemistry. 4th edition by: Coli Baird and Michael Cann
Prerequisite Knowledge:
1234-

Basic chemistry, analytical chemistry

Fair background of physical chemistry, organic and free radical interaction chemistry
Basic thermodynamics & kinetics chemistry
Basic microbiology

MISSED EXAMS:
No exam will be given after the scheduled date/time without appropriate medical documents. Missed
exams will be graded (0) unless properly excused.
Cheating and plagiarism
All forms of cheating including plagiarism are serious offense. The instructor has the right to assign a grade
of O on the examination or assignment, or, at the instructors discretion, a letter grade F on the course.

A second offense may result in an automatic expulsion from the program.

Attendance:
An absence equivalent to 10% of the total credit hours or (3 class absences) before the withdrawal period
will lead to the students automatic withdrawal from the course. Only justified documented absences will
be accepted. Absence from any class or make-up sessions; whether excused or not, does not absolve the
student of his/her responsibility for the work done or assigned in that class as far as any announcements
made during his/her absence.
Professionalism:
You should be able to demonstrate a professional attitude and behavior towards your work, your fellow
students and your instructor: this includes reliability, respect for and cooperation with colleagues,
willingness to work calmly and courteously under difficult conditions; determination to achieve first-class
work while meeting deadlines, respect for equipments and systems, and constructive response to criticism.
Course content:
Before each class you are expected to read the handouts that are going to be discussed that day and prepare
the requested topic. An obvious failure to do so will be noted against your class participation.
Policies and procedures:

No student is allowed to enter the classroom after 10 minutes of the commencement of the lecture.
Pin drop silence should be maintained in the class room.
Wrong behavior is prohibited. A student will be sent out of the class room if he/she found doing
mischief / cross-talk when the lecture is in progress. Remember in such cases, the student is marked
to have an excused absence from that lecture and on reoccurrence he/she may expelled from the
class or even dropped from the course.
Drinking and eating are prohibited in the class environment.
Students are expected to attend all classes and deliver all the projects and papers on time. any late
submission will not be accepted without penalty.

Topics to be covered:

Introduction to Environmental Chemistry

The Earths atmosphere
Stratospheric chemistry / ozone
Tropospheric chemistry / precipitation
Atmospheric aerosols
Microbiological process
Water pollution & waste water treatment chemistry
Nuclear Chemistry