Ελληνικά

Ecology and Chemistry for Civil Engineers

Course Description:

Inrtoduction to the principles of ecology, organization of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (energy flow, biogeochemical cycling of elements), metabolism of organisms (energetics of organisms under different redox conditions), population interactions, trophic levels. Introduction to inorganic and aquatic chemistry, physicochemical properties of water, methods of expressing concentration of chemical compounds in water. Stoichiometry of chemical reactions, acid base reactions, oxidation reduction reactions. Buffering capacity of water, carbonate system, solubility of solids and gases in water. Chemistry of materials: principles, electronic structure, chemistry bonding, chemical structures of crystals, X ray crystallography, chemical reactions. Soil chemistry: introduction to soil chemistry, physico-chemical properties of soils, physico-chemical processes in soils and water, with emphasis on ionic equilibria, organic complexation, mineral stability, and surface sorption. Introduction to atmospheric chemistry. Human impact on the environment. Natural environment, deforestation, soil pollution, environmental impact assessment.Water pollution, oxygen depletion, eutrophication chmicals pollution. Atmospheric pollution. Introduction to pollution control technology.

Course Units

# Title Description Hours
1 Ecosystems and organisms Introduction to ecology, metabolism of organisms, energy production, phytosynthesis, respiration, structure of organisms in communities, ecosystems, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems 2Χ3=6
2 biogeochemical cycling of elements, structure of ecosystems Carbon and oxygen cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorus cycle and cycling of other elements, structure of ecosystems, trophic levels, populations interactions, energy flow in ecosystems, limitiing factors in ecosystems 1Χ3=3
3 Principles of inorganic chemistry Introduction to inorganic chemistry, type of bonds, methods of expressing concentration of chemical compounds in water. Stoichiometry of chemical reactions, acid base reactions, oxidation reduction reactions. 2Χ3=6
4 Aquatic chemistry Introduction to aquatic chemistry, physicochemical properties of water, methods of expressing concentration of chemical compounds in water, water hardness, buffering capacity of water, alkalinity, carbonate system, solubility of solids and gases in water. 2Χ3=6
5 Chemistry of materials principles, electronic structure, chemistry bonding, chemical structures of crystals, X ray crystallography, chemical reactions. 2Χ3=6
6 Soil chemistry introduction to soil chemistry, physico-chemical properties of soils, physico-chemical processes in soils and water, with emphasis on ionic equilibria, organic complexation, mineral stability, and surface sorption. 1Χ3=3
7 Atmospheric chemistry Introduction to atmospheric chemistry, primary and secondary air pollutants, photochemical smog, acid rain, ozone pollution, pollution control strategies 1Χ3=3
8 Human impact on the environment Natural environment, deforestation, soil pollution, environmental impact assessment.Water pollution, oxygen depletion, eutrophication chmicals pollution. Atmospheric pollution. Introduction to pollution control technology. 2Χ3 = 6

Learning Objectives

By the completion of the course, students will be able to:

  1. identify the basic functions in an ecosystem and understand the interactions, both biotic and abiotic, that regulate ecological population size and community structure
  2. understand the basic functions of organisms and how organisms influence the flow of energy and cycling of nutrients within ecosystems
  3. evaluate human interactions with nature and effects on natural systems
  4. understand the behavior of inorganic species, such as carbonate and trace metals, in water
  5. understand acid-base reactions, complexation, precipitation-dissolution, and reduction-oxidation reactions
  6. describe the constitution of substances, together with their chemical and physico-chemical properties;
  7. relate the chemical properties and physico-chemical behaviour of substances with emphasis on X-ray diffraction to their structure and composition

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods Course teaching in class. Solving 10 – 15 problems in class.
Teaching media Blackboard use. Powerpoint presentations. Solving homeworks
Problems - Applications 5-6 homeworks (optional)

Student Assessment

  • Final written exam: 70%
  • Problems - Applications: 30% *στη περίπτωση υποβολής ασκήσεων

Textbooks - Bibliography

  1. Κ. Χατζημπίρος (2014). Οικολογία - Οικοσυστήματα και Προστασία του Περιβάλλοντος, Εκδόσεις Συμμετρία.
  2. Σημειώσεις και παρουσιάσεις των διδασκόντων.