Course Title: Aquatic Chemistry

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Aquatic Chemistry

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

CHEM1059

City Campus

Undergraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016

CHEM1059

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

Course Coordinator: Dr. Andrew Hung

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 1974

Course Coordinator Email: andrew.hung@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 3.2.10C

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment, by email


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

 

Required Prior Study

You should have satisfactorily completed following course/s before you commence this course.

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.


Course Description

This course builds on the knowledge and experiences gained in the first-year environmental chemistry courses and on material presented in CHEM1058 Aquatic and Soil Chemistry: Natural Processes. It aims to give an understanding of the fundamental chemical and physical processes in the environment through a combination of lecture and laboratory work..

The course has two content modules, in which you will:

  • Study the basic chemical principles and environmental applications of a range of physical chemistry topics including Thermodynamics and the Environment, Processes in Solution, Processes in the Atmosphere, Structure and Reactivity.
  • Fate and behaviour of nutrients in aquatic systems. This component of CHEM1059 will explore the fate, behaviour and impact of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon) in aquatic systems in a way that establishes chemical principles within the contextual framework of wetlands science.

You will also develop problem solving techniques using the knowledge gained in these areas. The laboratory component of the subject is designed to illustrate and complement the theory presented in recorded content, lectorials and workshops improve your ability to work effectively as a team member, to further enhance basic skills in chemistry and your abilities to appropriately collect data and information


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following BP192 Bachelor of Environmental Science program learning outcomes:

1. Understanding science
1.1 You will be able to articulate the methods of science and explain why current environmental knowledge is both contestable and testable through further inquiry.

2. Scientific knowledge
2.2 You will understand that environmental science has interdisciplinary connections with other sciences.

3. Inquiry and problem solving
3.4 You will be able to collect, accurately record, interpret and draw conclusions from scientific data.

4. Communication
4.1 You will be able to communicate environmental science results, information, or arguments effectively using a range of modes (oral, written, visual) to different audiences.

5. Personal and professional responsibility
5.1 You will be an independent and self-directed learner
5.2 You will work responsibly, safely, legally and ethically in an individual or team context


On completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an ability to access and use a variety of learning materials and resources;
  2. Apply concepts, terminology, conventions and calculations important in environmental chemistry, including developing a systematic approach to solving and presenting solutions to tutorial and assignment problems in environmental chemistry;
  3. Develop and apply laboratory skills relating to instrument operation, observation and measurement, and write laboratory reports in a concise and systematic manner;
  4. Effectively demonstrate teamwork in lectorial and laboratory sessions, accessing sources of chemical data and making appropriate use of this information when necessary
  5. Recognise professionalism in your workplace with respect to safety, ethics, teamwork and communication and adapt your own behaviour to demonstrate professionalism


Overview of Learning Activities

 

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course


Overview of Learning Resources

 

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks:

Assessment item 1: End of module online quizzes assessments
Weighting: 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2

Assessment item 2: Assignments
Weighting: 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2

Assessment item 3: Laboratory reports
Weighting: 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 3, 4, 5

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.