Week 1: Hydrology & Aquatic Ecology
In the first week of class we will be using Luna Leopold's View of the River as or class text. Through the literature, we will learn how to integrate the concepts of ecology and hydrology together. Literature readings will be provied on PROWL and listed in the References pages.
Luna Leopold, AView of the River
Day 1:
Leopold Ch. 3: Hydrographs
Leopold Ch. 7: Flood Frequency
Leopold Ch. 12: Drainage Network
Day 2:
Leopold Ch. 2: Gauging Stations and Discharge Measurements
Leopold Ch. 5: Discharge & Basin Size
Leopold Ch. 8: Discharge Measurements
Day 3:
Leopold Ch. 1: Overview of River Morphology
Leopold Ch. 4: Fluvial Geomorphology
Leopold Ch. 13: Energy Utilization
Day 4:
Leopold Ch. 10: Hydraulic Geometry
Leopold Ch. 14: River Morphology
Day ?
Leopold Ch. 11: Sediment Load
Weeks 2-3 Aquatic Chemistry & Ecology
We will use a module written about acid rain to learn about various aspects of acid-base chemistry and how it relates to aqueous
geochemistry. Our guide through the topic will be the Acid
Rain Module, written by George Lisensky at Beloit College, as part of
the NSF-funded ChemLinks project which seeks to help students learn about
chemistry by approaching real-world problems as chemists do. The readings
and topics in the module are provided below. If you have not already purchased a copy, please go to the Norton Publishing on-line store. You will need a credit card for the $5 purchase (a bargain at twice the price!).
Aquatic Chemistry I (Week 2, Day
Sources of Acid Rain
Read pp. 9-10 of the acid rain module, the Acid Rain handout (Jacobs Ch. 13; PROWL) and the Likens paper on acid rain (PROWL) .
Session 1: How is acid rain formed?
Exploration 1A: How is acid rain formed?
The two major components of acid rain are sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3). The sources
of the acids are explained on pp. 9-10 in the Acid Rain module. A more detailed explanation of the atmospheric formation is described in Jacobs (Ch. 13). Briefly,
the major anthropogenic source of H2SO4
is from the combustion of sulfur impurities in coal while the major anthropogenic
source of HNO3 is from combustion of air with fuel
in vehicles. The production of NOx from vehicles was covered extensively
as a topic in Energy & the Environment class in Block 5, 2002. The
web notes are provided in the link: Pollution from Energy Use.
The most effective technological methods for reducing NOx is
through the use of catalytic converters on vehicle exhaust systems. The
most effective technological methods for reducing SOx is through
the use of scrubbers in power plants. The reactions describing these processes
are provided on pp. 9-10 of the Acid Rain module.
Discussion Question: Will stopping deposition of sulfuric acid stop the problem of acid rain?
Aquatic Chemistry II (April 29: in class)
Chemical Equilibrium and Acid-Base Reactions
Session 2: What is an acid?
If you need more chemistry background, you can read pp. 2-14 from the introduction to acids and bases by Stephen Lower (PROWL) or you can access an on-line chemistry text.
Exploration 2B: How do we identify acids from a chemical formula?
One of the more difficult aspects of acid-base chemistry for beginning
students is the ability to identify a substance as an acid or a base. Some helpful information is found on pp. 24-26 of the module. Briefly,
a Bronsted-Lowry acid is a proton donor and a Bronsted-Lowry base is a
proton acceptor. In the Lewis formalism, an acid is an electron acceptor
and a base is an electron donor. Exploration 2B provides examples
to do afetr class that will give you practice in identifying acids and bases.
In addition, we will answer the following questions based on the in-class demonstration.
Does the light bulb light differently for the following solutions: 0.1
M HCl, 0.1 M CH3COOH, 10^-6 M HCl; H2O?
Explain.
Prepare models of water and show a reaction when two water molecules collide.
In a pure water solution, how often does this happen?
Repeat this with HCl and H2O.
Repeat again with CH3COOH and H2O.
Exploration 3A: How do systems respond to stress?
Chemical equilibrium and Le Châtelier's Principle
In-class and Homework:
Types of Reaction worksheet
Reaction Quotient worksheet
Equilibrium Constant worksheet
pH worksheet
Weak Acid worksheet
Optional supplementary questions- Acid Rain Module: 2B:7.1, 7.7; 2C: 7, 10; 3A:2,1-7 (A only)
Aquatic Chemistry III (April 30: in-class)
pH and pKa
Exploration 2C: What is pH?
pH worksheet (homework review)
Supplementary problems : 2C-3, 4, 5
Session 3: What is the pH of normal rain?
Read Exploration 3B (pp. 42-44 and p. 47) before class. If you are confused, don't worry as we'll discuss this in class-BUT it helps if you've seen it once before.
Exploration 3B: What is the pH of normal rain?
pH of rain in the United States
Acid-Base Equilibrium worksheets (homework review)
Supplementary problems : 3B-1 (1 and 7), 2-4, 9: (1 and 7)
Aquatic Chemistry IV (May 1: in-class)
Intro to log-distribution
(alpha) diagrams
Session 3: What is the pH of normal rain?
Exploration 3C: Is there a faster way to calculate pH? (Part
2)
Class Discussion: Logarithmic Concentration Diagrams
Supplementary problems: 3C-2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, complete graphing exercise.
Acid-base chemistry links
Acid Rain Module (website to accompany module)
Making the Link: How do you predict the pH of a weak acid?
Homework problems: 3C: 1-13; 16, 19; Spreadsheet graphing exercise: Carbonate Equilibria: Excel Assignment
Aquatic Chemistry V (May 2: in-class)
Alkalinity; Buffers
Read the following sections of the Acid Rain
module:
Session 4: How does acid rain interact with soil?
Exploration 4C: How does ion-exchange protect soils from acid rain (Buffers)?
Exploration 4D: What happens when the buffer runs out (titrations)? What is alkalinity?
Acid-base chemistry links (titrations)
In class: Carbonate Equilibria: Excel Assignment
Discussion and Homework Questions:
3-1-1A, 2A, 4A (Making the Link);
Buffer worksheet
4C-7, 10, 11.
4D-7, 8, 10, 11
Aquatic Chemistry VI
Soil Chemistry and Ecosystem-Level Effects of Acid Rain
Read the following sections of the Acid Rain
module as well as paper 2:
Session 4: How does acid rain interact with soil?
Exploration 4A: How does acid rain interact with soil?
Acid Rain Module website (many sites for viewing soil structures)
Acid-base chemistry links (titrations)
Discussion and Homework Questions:
3-1-1A, 2A, 4A (Making the Link);
4A-6-8; 12-19.
Making the Link (4): all questions
Session 5: Is this soil nutritious or toxic?
Exploration 5A: Are all soils the same?
Web resources (Module Links)
Discussion and HW Questions: 5A-5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Exploration 5B: Will aluminum be mobilized? (Complexation)
Discussion and HW Questions: 5B-1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Making the Link: Is this soil nutritious or toxic?
Discussion and HW Questions: all questions in Making the Link (5)
Questions to ponder: What are the critical problems in your region?
Emissions and Deposition
External Links (National Environment Ministries and Agencies)
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