Beloit College > Chemistry > Environmental, Analytical and Geochemistry

Chemical equilibria are fundamental in the understanding of biological and environmental processes and in chemical analysis. This course emphasizes quantitative and graphical interpretation of acid-base, solubility, distribution, complex ion, and redox equilibria in aqueous solution and soils. Laboratory work stresses application of gravimetric, volumetric, spectrophotometric, and potentiometric techniques. Pre-professional preparation requiring one term of quantitative analysis is satisfied by Chemistry 220. Three class periods and one laboratory period per week. Offered each spring.

Prerequisites: Algebra; Chemistry 117 or facility with mole calculations.


Course Syllabus (pdf)

Lab Reports

Slide Resources

Techniques and Prelab Material
Pipet Lab (Using a volumetric pipet)
Lead Lab (Weighing by difference)
Lead Lab (Using a volumetric flask)
Lead Lab (Rinsing glassware)
Lead Lab (Gravimetric method)
Copper Lab (Preparing an ion exchange column)
Copper Lab (Weight Titration)
Chloride or Acid Lab (Buret Review)
Chloride or Acid Lab (Filling a buret)
Chloride Lab (Potentiometric Titration)
Chloride or Electrode Lab (Multimeters)
Electrode Lab (Assembling an ISE electrode)
Electrode Lab (Assembling a Ag/AgCl reference electrode)

Chemical Calculations and Review
Lewis Dot and Formal Charge (Review Figures)
Lewis Dot and Formal Charge (Tutorial Video)
Scientific Notation and Dimensional Analysis (Tutorial Video)
Calculations Review (pdf)
Review Problem Set One & Answers (pdf)
Unit Conversions Review (slides)

Math Skills
Review of Algebra (Stewart Calculus) copy
Algebraic Manipulation (Chemistry Department, Texas A&M)
Manipulation of Exponents (Chemistry Department, Texas A&M)
Quadratic Equation (Chemistry Department, Texas A&M)

Acid Rain
National Environment Ministries and Agencies and NGOs
Nitrogen and Sulfur Oxide Emissions by Country
Soil Maps

Statistics
Excel Templates
Statistical Variables (animations)
Likelihood Terminology
Statistics Problem Set Four & Answers (pdf)
Linear Least Squares Formulas (pdf)

Acids and Bases
Example problem answers to Acid Rain 3B-1
Example problem answers to Acid Rain 3C-10
Logarithmic Concentration Diagrams (animations)
Buffer Problem Set Seven & Answers (pdf)
Indicators
Titrations (animations)

Kplot software
Draw logarithmic concentration, distribution, and titration plots for acid/base, solubility, metal/ligand and redox equilibria, as well as cyclic voltammograms, Frost and Pourbaix diagrams.

Right click or control-click to download a zip file of the program:
Mac zip or Mac dmg, Windows 64 or Windows 32, Linux or Raspberry Pi.
You will need a way to unzip the file. You can place the resulting file/folder anywhere.
For Windows, the Kplot program will be inside the Kplot folder.
Since the Mac OSX application is not signed, you will need to control-click the app icon and choose Open from the context menu the first time you run it.

Water Sampling Sites

Equilibria and Ionic Strength
Systematic Method Review (slides)
Activity Corrections (animations)
Example problems from class (pdf)

Mineral Structures (especially dioctahedral sheets)

Solubility
Titrations (animations)

Distribution
Chromatography (animations)
Chemical Contamination (pdf)

Soil
Cation Exchange Capacity (video)

Metals and Ligands
Polydentate ligands (jsmol)
Ligand Problem Set Ten & Answers (pdf)
EDTA Titrations (animations)
Healthline: Is Calcium Disodium EDTA a Safe Additive? (link)
Dow: General Concepts of the Chemistry of Chelation (pdf copy)

Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy Problem Set Eleven & Answers (pdf)
Beer's Law PhET html5 simulation (link)
     Choose option Beer's Law (not Concentration) then turn on light source and adjust concentration.

Iron Analysis
USDA Nutrient Database (link)
Text lab manual (pdf)

Cyclic Voltammetry
Variables in Cyclic Voltammetry (animations)
References
Linear and Cyclic Voltammetry (University of Cambridge)
Pine AfterMath Operating Manual (link)
Epsilon Operating Manual (link)

Redox
pH Effects on Distribution and Redox Titrations (animations)
Electrogeochemistry captures carbon, produces fuel, offsets ocean acidification, Phys.org (2018)


Last updated March 8, 2023 by George Lisensky

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