Environmental Chemistry (Fall 2007)

Related Links:

Overview of the Pilot Curriculum General Education Requirement
Current Pilot Curriculum General Requirement Course Descriptions

This course fulfills Category III of the General Education Requirement.

Faculty:

Marsha Lester
Chemistry, Faculty
250 CHEM/6323
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/chem/faculty/lester/lester.html
milester@sas.upenn.edu
898-4640		 Mark Hermanson
Chemistry, Faculty
550 CHEM/6323
markhh@sas.upenn.edu
573-8727

Meeting Times:

LEC CHEM 012 001 T & R 10:30 - 12:00
REC CHEM 012 201 F 2:00 - 3:00

Course Description:

This course for non-science majors aims to teach chemical content and principles in the context of significant environmental issues. Topics to be covered include: 
  • Composition of the atmosphere
  • Protecting the ozone layer
  • Chemistry of global warming
  • Traditional hydrocarbon fuels and energy utilization
  • Water supply, its contaminants, and waste water treatment
  • Acid rain
  • Nuclear energy
  • New energy sources

Students will develop critical thinking ability, competence to better assess risks and benefits, and skills that will lead them to be able to make more informed decisions about technology-based matters. The course requires math literacy at the HS algebra level (2 years) and a willingness to learn Excel. Students must also have taken one year of HS chemistry.

This course fulfills Category III (Earth Space & Life) of the General Education Requirement in the Pilot Curriculum. It also satisfies the College’s Quantitative Data Analysis Requirement and the Physical World category of the current General Requirement.

Students must register for both the lecture and recitation.

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