1.76
Aquatic Chemistry
Quantitative treatment of chemical processes in aquatic systems such as lakes, oceans, rivers, estuaries, groundwaters, and wastewaters. A brief review of chemical thermodynamics is followed by discussion of acid-base, precipitation-dissolution, coordination, and reduction-oxidation reactions. Emphasis is on equilibrium calculations as a tool for understanding the variables that govern the chemical composition of aquatic systems and the fate of inorganic pollutants.
Fall 2005
Topics
- Introduction, Review of Laws of Thermodynamics
- Gibbs Free Energy, Chemical Potential, eq. Constants
- Solving Problems by Approximation - Log C vs. pH Diagrams
- Temperature, Pressure, and Ionic Strength Effects on Equilibrium
- Properties of Water, Interactions Among Solutes, Activity Coefficients
- Activity Coefficients and Debye-Huckel Theory
- The Carbonate System and Alkalinity
- Uses of Alkalinity
- Limitations of Alkalinity Concept
- Buffer Capacity
- Class Discussion - Mid-term (Take-home)
- Mineral Solubility
- Stability Diagrams
- Chemical Weathering and Natural Water Composition
- Introduction to Complexation
- Trace Metals - Inorganic Complexation
- Introduction to Redox Chemistry (Don’t use Tableaux)
- Equilibrium Calculations with Redox Reactions
- Redox Potential (pe) as a System Variable
- pe-pH Diagrams
- Trace Metals - Organic Complexation
- Effects of Complexation and Precipitation on Redox Equilibria
- Oxidation Kinetics in Homogeneous Systems
- Heterogeneous Systems
Readings
- Morel, Francois M., and Janet G. Hering. Principles and Applications of Aquatic Chemistry . New York, NY: Wiley-Interscience, 1993. ISBN: 0471548960.
- Anderson, G. W. Thermodyanmics of Natural Systems . New York, NY: Wiley-Interscience, 2005. ISBN: 0521847729.
- Stumm, Werner, and James J. Morgan. Aquatic Chemistry . New York, NY: Wiley-Interscience, 1996. ISBN: 0471511854.
- The readings in the class all come from the main textbook and are listed by chapter.
- Morel, Francois M., and Janet G. Hering. Principles and Applications of Aquatic Chemistry . New York, NY: Wiley-Interscience, 1993. ISBN: 0471548960.
- Anderson, G. W. Thermodynamics of Natural Systems . New York, NY: Wiley-Interscience, 2005. ISBN: 0521847729.
- Introduction to Tableau Method Chapter 1
- Setting Up Equilibrium Problems - Tableau Method Chapters 1 and 2
- SES #: 3-4 · TOPICS: Solving Problems by Approximation - Log C vs. pH Diagrams · READINGS: Chapters 1 and 2
- SES #: 5 · TOPICS: Temperature, Pressure, and Ionic Strength Effects on Equilibrium · READINGS: Chapter 2
- SES #: 6 · TOPICS: Properties of Water, Interactions Among Solutes, Activity Coefficients · READINGS: Chapter 2
- SES #: 7 · TOPICS: Activity Coefficients and Debye-Huckel Theory · READINGS: Chapter 2
- SES #: 8-9 · TOPICS: The Carbonate System and Alkalinity · READINGS: Chapter 4
- SES #: 10 · TOPICS: Uses of Alkalinity · READINGS: Chapter 4
- SES #: 11 · TOPICS: Limitations of Alkalinity Concept · READINGS: Chapter 4
- SES #: 12 · TOPICS: Buffer Capacity · READINGS: Chapter 4
- SES #: 14 · TOPICS: Mineral Solubility · READINGS: Chapter 6
- SES #: 15 · TOPICS: Stability Diagrams · READINGS: Chapter 6
- SES #: 16 · TOPICS: Chemical Weathering and Natural Water Composition · READINGS: Chapter 6
- SES #: 17 · TOPICS: Introduction to Complexation · READINGS: Chapter 5
- SES #: 18 · TOPICS: Trace Metals - Inorganic Complexation · READINGS: Chapter 5
- SES #: 19 · TOPICS: Introduction to Redox Chemistry (Don’t use Tableaux) · READINGS: Chapter 7
- SES #: 20 · TOPICS: Equilibrium Calculations with Redox Reactions · READINGS: Chapter 7
- SES #: 21 · TOPICS: Redox Potential (pe) as a System Variable · READINGS: Chapter 7
- SES #: 22 · TOPICS: pe-pH Diagrams · READINGS: Chapter 7
- SES #: 23 · TOPICS: Trace Metals - Organic Complexation · READINGS: Chapter 6
- SES #: 24 · TOPICS: Effects of Complexation and Precipitation on Redox Equilibria · READINGS: Chapter 7
Prerequisites & course information
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR) or ( 5.601 and 5.602 ) Acad Year 2027-2028: G (Fall) Acad Year 2028-2029: Not offered 3-0-9 units
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Fall 2005
- MIT OCW calendar ↗
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.