Course Content
Introduction to Environmental Chemistry
Environmental chemistry is the study of the chemical and biochemical phenomena that occur in nature. It involves the understanding of how the uncontaminated environment works, and which naturally occurring chemicals are present, in what concentrations and with what effects. Environmental chemistry; is the study of sources, reactions, transport, effects and fate of chemical species in water, soil and air environment as well as their effects on human health and natural environment
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Introduction
Origin of the solar System
Cosmology; is the branch of astronomy involving the study of the of the universe and the solar system. Cosmo-chemistry ;( chemical cosmology); is the study of chemical composition of the matter in the universe and the process that led to those compositions The solar system is made up of the sun (a star) with nine planets orbiting around it. These planets together with all the other heavenly bodies moving around or between individual planet form members of the solar system. Other heavenly body include; asteroids, comets, meteors, meteorites and satellites such as moon. The solar system does not include other stars .
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Origin of The Universe and Solar System
Solutions
Solutions are defined as homogeneous mixtures that are mixed so thoroughly that neither component can be observed independently of the other. The major component of the solution is called solvent, and the minor component(s) are called solute.
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Introduction
Solubility of Solutions
Solubility Product
Solution Concentrations
Chemical Equilibria
Chemical equilibrium in the environment refers to the state where the rates of forward and reverse reactions of a chemical reaction reach a balance. In this state, the concentrations of reactants and products remain constant over time, although the reactions continue to occur.
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Introduction
The Concept of Equilibrium
Relation Between Chemical Kinetics and Chemical Equilibrium
Factors Affecting Chemical Equilibrium
Laws of Chemical Equilibria
Phase Interactions
Phase interactions in solutions refer to the behavior and changes that occur when two or more substances (solutes and solvents) mix together to form a homogeneous mixture. These interactions are related to the different phases of matter, such as solids, liquids, and gases, and how they interact and transform during the process of solution formation.
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Introduction
 Phase interactions
Colligative Properties of Solutions
COLLIGATIVE PROPERTIES OF SOLUTIONS Colligative properties are physical properties of solutions that depend on the concentration of solute particles, rather than the specific identity of the solute. The four colligative properties that can be exhibited by a solution are: 1.Boiling point elevation 2.Freezing point depression 3.Relative lowering of vapour pressure 4.Osmotic pressure
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Introduction
Colligative Properties Examples
Introduction To Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry is the study of carbon containing compounds and their properties. This includes the great majority of chemical compounds on the planet, but some substances such as carbonates and oxides of carbon are considered to be inorganic substances even though they contain carbon.
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Introduction
The IUPAC Naming (nomenclature) 
Alkyl halides, Alkenes and Alkynes
Alcohols , Ethers, Aldehydes and Ketones
Carboxylic Acids, Esters and Amines
Simple Organic Molecules in the Environment
Soil Chemistry and Pollution
soil
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Introduction to Soil Chemistry
Chemical Characteristics of Soil
Biological Characteristics of Soil
Physical Characteristics of Soil
Soil Salinity, Conductivity and Ion Exchange Capacity
Soil Pollution
Water Chemistry and Polution
Water Chemistry
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Water and the Environment
Water Chemistry
Characteristics and Properties of Water
Portable water 
Water pollution
Water Quality Analysis
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
Air Quality and Pollution
Air Quality and Pollution
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Air Quality
Testing Air Quality
Biodegradation
Biodegradation
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Biodegradation
Mechanisms of Biodegradation 
Role of Microorganisms in Biodegradation
BioGeoChemical Cycles
BiogeoChemical Cycles
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Biogeochemical cycles
The Water Cycle
The Carbon Cycle
The Nitrogen Cycle
The Phosphorus Cycle
The Sulfur Cycle
Introduction To Environmental Chemistry
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ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Organic chemistry is the study of carbon containing compounds and their properties. This includes the great majority of chemical compounds on the planet, but some substances such as carbonates and oxides of carbon are considered to be inorganic substances even though they contain carbon.

Organic chemicals are continually released into the environment in large quantities.  There is a need to understand how these organic molecules will interact with the environment in order to minimise their impact. To achieve this the type of reactions that organic molecules undergo needs to be understood.

Comparison of the properties of organic and inorganic compounds

Organic Compounds

Inorganic Compounds

Use mostly covalent bonding

Are gases, liquids or solids with low melting points

Mostly insoluble in water

Many are soluble in organic solvents such as petroleum, benzene and hexane

Solution in water generally do not conduct electricity Almost all burn

Slow to react with other chemicals

Mostly ionic bonding

Are generally solids with high melting points

Many are water soluble

Most are not soluble in organic solvents

When dissolved in water conducts electrical current Most not combustible

Often undergo fast chemical reactions

 

The vast majority of organic compounds are typically chains or rings of carbon atoms that contain other elements such as O, N, P, S, Cl, Br and I. There are over five million of these compounds known today and an almost infinite number of new compounds could possibly be synthesized. This can be compared to the total number of inorganic compounds, which is approximately half a million.

Why does carbon form so many compounds?

Carbon has the ability to bond with itself to form long chains and ring structures; hence it can form molecules that contain from one to an infinite number of C atoms.

Additionally C atoms may:

  • be bonded by multiple bonds (i.e. double and triple) as well as single
  • contain branches of other carbon chains
  • need additional atoms attached to them to make them stable. The most common of these is H, but, N, O, X, P and S also commonly occurs attached to C and may even be attached in several different ways.

Functional Groups

The behavior of any molecule in a particular chemical environment is determined by the stability or reactivity of its bonds. Each different type of bond shows different levels of reactivity.

Generally in a molecule there is a group of bonds that are more reactive than all the others and this group tends to determine how the whole molecule behaves in a particular chemical environment regardless of the structure of the rest of the molecule.

Chemists call these dominant groups of atoms and bonds functional groups and these are used to classify organic compounds into families.

Understanding the types of reactions that functional groups undergo will enable an understanding of how an organic molecule interacts with the environment.

A carbon-carbon double bond is an example of a functional group. Organic compounds that contain a carbon-carbon double bond and no other functional group are called alkenes (a family name used to classify these compounds). All alkenes react with bromine to yield dibromoalkanes

Hence if you know a functional group reacts in one molecule you can predict how it will react in almost all other molecules.

It is possible to get more than one functional group in a single molecule, but the generalisation stated above still applies.


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