Environmental Chemistry

Environmental Chemistry is the study of chemical substance present in the environment which are induced by human’s activities. These activities may be felt on a local scale, through the presence of urban air pollutants or toxic substances arising from a chemical waste site, or on a global scale, through depletion of stratospheric ozone or global warming. The focus in our courses and research activities is upon developing a fundamental understanding of the nature of these chemical processes, so that human’s activities can be accurately evaluated.

The field of environmental chemistry is both very wide and highly interdisciplinary. Within the Department of Chemistry we have a core group of faculty whose research interests are in atmospheric and aquatic chemistry, photochemistry, and the chemistry and transport of long- lived pollutants. They interact with other chemists in the department, with numerous other researchers at the university who have related interests, and with nearby government agencies. Indeed, the setting for the study of environmental chemistry is perfect.

Environmental chemistry graduate programme up of graduate courses which work on the fundamental photochemical, kinetic, analytical and transport aspects of environmental phenomena, regular seminars, and close interactions between the different research groups. We emphasize the need for students to be able to put their own research into a global context.

Environmental Chemistry is rapidly expanding, and excellent employment opportunities exist in the academic, government, industrial and public policy sectors.

Cycles are sequences of events that repeat themselves in a particular pattern. In environmental chemistry, our concern is basically with biogeochemical cycles. Precisely, biogeochemical cycles are

interconnected complex processes by which matter or elements that make up the biotic and abiotic systems are used over and over again between the living and non-living things. Some of the very important natural biogeochemical cycles include: Carbon Cycle, Nitrogen Cycle, Sulphur Cycle, and Hydrological (Water) Cycle.

Reference

CHM134 Environmental Chemistry

Published By:

National Open University of Nigeria

First Printed 2010

ISBN: 978-058-776-4