Ecology and Chemistry for Civil Engineers

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.