SubjectsSubjects(version: 982)
Course, academic year 2026/2027
  
   
Environmental Chemistry I - B217015
Title: Environmentální chemie I
Guaranteed by: Department of Water Technology and Environmental Engineering (217)
Faculty: Faculty of Environmental Technology
Actual: from 2026
Semester: summer
Points: summer s.:4
E-Credits: summer s.:4
Examination process: summer s.:
Hours per week, examination: summer s.:3/1, C+Ex [HT]
Capacity: unknown / unknown (unknown)Schedule is not published yet, this information might be misleading.
Min. number of students: unlimited
State of the course: taught
Language: Czech
Teaching methods: full-time
Level:  
Old code: EKO
Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan
enabled for web enrollment
Guarantor: Kujalová Hana Ing. Ph.D.
Classification: Chemistry > Environmental Chemistry
Interchangeability : AB240004, B240004, N240010
Is pre-requisite for: B240015
Is interchangeable with: B240004
Examination dates   Schedule   
This subject contains the following additional online materials
Annotation -
The course content is the study of chemical, physicochemical and biochemical processes that take place in the atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere. Students will learn about the usual chemical composition of these environmental components and its changes due to natural processes and anthropogenic influences. Attention is focused on the general principles of acid-base, complex-forming, precipitation and oxidation-reduction equilibria, as well as on the formation of the composition of water, soil and air and on the transformations of the forms of occurrence of substances depending on environmental conditions. Basic hydrochemical calculations are discussed in relation to the different types of equilibrium processes, including examples of model solutions. Computational programs for speciation modelling are also presented. In particular, students will learn numerical procedures for solving equilibria in waters and learn to construct and navigate basic types of diagrams used in hydrochemistry in Excel. The course also provides an introduction to atmospheric chemistry and geospheric chemistry. The aim is to highlight the interconnection of environmental compartments, the transport of substances within and between them, and the interactions affecting chemical composition. The course provides a knowledge base for the follow-up course Environmental Chemistry II.
Last update: Kujalová Hana (12.05.2025)
Course completion requirements -

Attendance at lectures and tutorials is encouraged but not monitored. Completion of the course is conditional on the student writing a credit test with a score of at least 50 points out of 100 possible points, only then is the student admitted to the examination.

Last update: Kujalová Hana (12.05.2025)
Literature -

Recommended:

  • Manahan S. E.. Environmental Chemistry, Eleventh Edition. : CRC Press, 2022, s. ISBN 9780367558871.
  • Manahan S. E.. Environmental Science and Technology: A Sustainable Approach to Green Science and Technology, Second Edition. : CRC Press, 2006, s. ISBN 978-0849395123.
  • Ibanez J. G.. Environmental chemistry: fundamentals. : Springer, 2007, s. ISBN 978-0387260617.
  • Beard J. M.. Environmental chemistry in society, 2nd edition. : Taylor & Francis, 2013, s. ISBN 978-1439892671.
  • vanLoon G. W., Duffy S. J.. Environmental Chemistry: A global perspective, 3rd Edition. : Oxford University Press, 2011, s. ISBN 978-0199228867.
  • Skácel, František, Tekáč, Viktor. Analýza ovzduší. : VŠCHT Praha, 2019, https://vufind.techlib.cz/Record/001870575 s. ISBN 978-80-7592-038-6.
  • Pitter Pavel. Hydrochemie. Praha: VŠCHT, 2015, s. ISBN 978-80-7080-928-0.

Last update: Kujalová Hana (12.05.2025)
Teaching methods -

Lectures are conducted in the form of frontal interactive teaching enriched with case studies that show students the context and applicability of knowledge in practice. Active student involvement is supported by discussions and quizzes. Students learn the principles and procedures of calculations through model examples. In the exercises, students apply the knowledge they have acquired in solving examples, both independently and in pairs (especially more complex problems). The examples are simultaneously solved on the blackboard or the solution is projected in Excel. Individual steps or even methods of solution are discussed, which is instructive for students, deepens their understanding of the material, allows them to check their own calculations and provides feedback.

Last update: Kujalová Hana (12.05.2025)
Requirements to the exam -

The examination consists of a written and an oral part. The oral part can be taken only after obtaining at least 50 points in the written part. The standard marking of the test is: 100-90 points - A, 89-80 points - B, 79-70 points - C, 69-60 points - D, 59-50 points - E, 49-0 points - F. The final grade is determined by a weighted average of the marks obtained in the credit test (weighted at 25%), the examination test (weighted at 50%) and the oral part of the examination (weighted at 25%).

Last update: Kujalová Hana (12.05.2025)
Syllabus -

Lectures:

1. Introduction to environmental chemistry; general composition of water, types of water and its specifics, hydrochemical classification of water; organoleptic properties of water

2. Acid-base equilibria in water, acidification of water, neutralizing and buffering capacity of water, carbonate system

3. Calcium-carbonate balance, water aggressiveness, water hardness

4. Phase interactions in aquatic environments - precipitation equilibria, sediment-water column interactions, colloidal substances, dissolution of gases in waters

5. Structure and composition of the atmosphere, characteristics of the different layers

6. Factors affecting air quality, movement of atmospheric masses, atmospheric stability, basic meteorology

7. Gaseous major constituents of the atmosphere and their chemical reactions

8. Redox processes in waters, redox equilibria

9. Complex-forming equilibria and complex-forming substances in waters

10. Metals in waters - forms of occurrence and their transformations, properties

11. Pedosphere and soil properties - soil formation and evolution, soil forming factors, conditions and processes, soil profile, soil regimes, soil grain size, soil structure, soil porosity

12. Basics of geology and geography - geological processes, geological structure of the Czech Republic, geographical and astronomical coordinates, GPS

13. Mineral component of soil - crystallography and mineralogy, classification of soil minerals, basics of petrology and rock classification

14. Physico-chemical processes in soil - equilibria in soil, kinetics of reactions, soil solution, soil adsorption, ion exchange and sorption complex

Exercise:

1. Graphical representation of water composition - Piper diagrams

2. Principles of solving chemical equilibria

3. Numerical solution of acid-base equilibria

4. Calculations of the carbonate system

5. Calculation of the solubility of gases in water

6. Calculation of anthropogenic sources of CO2 in the atmosphere

7. Numerical solution of precipitation equilibria

8. Numerical solution of redox equilibria

9. Numerical solution of complex-forming equilibria

10. Graphical solution of equilibria - distribution diagrams and Pourbaix diagrams

11. Speciation modelling - Geochemist's Workbench, Minteq

12. Geological maps and sphere calculations

13. Mineralogical collection

14. Adsorption and ion exchange in calculations

Last update: Kujalová Hana (02.05.2025)
Learning resources -

https://e-learning.vscht.cz/

Last update: Kujalová Hana (02.05.2025)
Learning outcomes -

Students will have a detailed knowledge of the occurrence, transformation and transport of chemicals in individual environmental compartments and will be able to apply this knowledge in solving specific problems in the field of environmental protection. They will be able to interpret the results of monitoring various chemicals and evaluate water or air quality. They should be able to estimate the behaviour of substances in the environment as well as assess the impact of pollution on the state of the environment. They will be able to make informed judgements about the origin of specific substances in environmental compartments, possible reactions between them and possible interactions with other substances.

Last update: Kujalová Hana (12.05.2025)
Registration requirements -

Knowledge of general subjects such as mathematics, general inorganic and organic chemistry, physical chemistry and biochemistry.

Last update: Kujalová Hana (02.05.2025)
Teaching methods
Activity Credits Hours
Konzultace s vyučujícími 0.1 2
Účast na přednáškách 1.5 42
Příprava na přednášky, semináře, laboratoře, exkurzi nebo praxi 1 28
Příprava na zkoušku a její absolvování 0.9 25
Účast na seminářích 0.5 14
Semester tests 0 1
4 / 4 112 / 112
Coursework assessment
Form Significance
Examination test 50
Continuous assessment of study performance and course -credit tests 25
Oral examination 25

 
VŠCHT Praha