Basic Environmental Chemistry

Course title

S2085000

Click to show questionnaire result at 2019

Course description

Since the Industrial Revolution, the population of the world has exploded and the population that had less than 700 million in 1700 has reached 7 billion now. In order to cultivate an increasing population, forest destruction continues and the number of species continues to sharply decrease by expanding cultivated land, pumping down groundwater and irrigating, increasing the production of food by using a large amount of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Also, as a result of consuming a large amount of natural resources and expanding the production of substances in search of a better life, the environmental impact of a large amount of waste is becoming serious. Under such circumstances, the demand for realization of a sustainable world that considers the global environment is rapidly rising.
In this lesson, we approach the problem of the global environment from the viewpoint of substance and energy, and learn the principle of 'chemistry' indispensable for solving these problems. As a finish, we will research and report on new sustainability technologies, either individually or in groups.
The basis of chemistry to be learned in this lesson is that as you progress to specialized courses and even after graduating from university, when you are interested in the problems of the global environment and involve activities to realize a sustainable world, It will surely serve as a basis for scientific thinking for solving the problems.

Purpose of class

Learn the knowledge and principles of chemistry necessary to understand the various problems related to the global environment and make it possible to understand newspaper, magazine, television and other news reports from a chemical point of view. Also, for the future, when more specialized knowledge of chemistry is needed, we will solidify our foundation so that we can resume chemistry learning by ourselves. In addition, we will learn how to solve problem-based learning through research activities on new sustainability technologies.

Goals and objectives

	Goals and objectives	Course Outcomes
1.	You understand the properties of elements in relation to the periodic law and how the materials are made by the bonds between atoms.	1.
2.	You can write down correct chemical reaction formula for basic chemical reactions.	2.
3.	You understand the concept of molecular polarity, heat of reaction and binding energy, acid and base.	3.
4.	You can explain the mechanisms of air pollution, ozone depletion, global warming, water pollution and acid rain from the perspective of chemistry .	4.
5.	With regard to new sustainability technologies, you can investigate the materials and make reports on new technologies that enhance sustainability. In addition, we can provide a convincing explanation for such topics related to chemistry.	5.

Language

Japanese

Class schedule

	Class schedule	HW assignments (Including preparation and review of the class.)	Amount of Time Required
1.	Guidance (achievement goal, method of classes, method of grade assessment) Questionnaire about research activities	Read Chapter 0 of the textbook.	40分
1.		Make a preliminary investigation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).	30分
2.	Chemistry of air and air pollution (1)	Summarize what you learned in the last lesson. Read the textbook Chapter 1.	160分
2.	Chemistry of air and air pollution (1)	Evaluate your own 'Ecological Footprint' by the diagnostic test on the website of Ecological Footprint Japan.	40分
3.	Chemistry of air and air pollution (2)	Summarize what you learned in the last lesson. Read the textbook Chapter 6.	200分
4.	Global warming	Summarize what you learned in the last lesson. Read the textbook Chapter 3.	200分
5.	Depletion of the ozone layer	Summarize what you learned in the last lesson. Read the textbook Chapter 2.	200分
6.	Chemistry of water and water pollution (1)	Summarize what you learned in the last lesson. Read the textbook Chapter 5.	200分
7.	Chemistry of water and water pollution (2)	Summarize what you learned in the last lesson. Read the textbook Chapter 5 again.	200分
8.	Energy　resources and sustainability (1)	Summarize what you learned in the last lesson. Read the textbook Chapter 4.	200分
9.	Energy　resources and sustainability (2)	Summarize what you learned in the last lesson.	200分
10.	Energy　resources and sustainability (3)	Summarize what you learned in the last lesson. Read the textbook Chapter 4 again.	200分
11.	Garbage and recycling (1)	Summarize what you learned in the last lesson.	200分
12.	Garbage and recycling (2)	Summarize what you learned in the last lesson.	200分
13.	Chemistry for a sustainable future (1)	Summarize what you learned in the last lesson.	200分
14.	Chemistry for a sustainable future (2)	Summarize what you learned in the last lesson. Review all the contents of the classes.	200分
Total.	-	-	2670分

Relationship between 'Goals and Objectives' and 'Course Outcomes'

	Quizzes and Exercises	Evaluation of report	Total.
1.	15%	5%	20%
2.	15%	5%	20%
3.	30%	10%	40%
4.		20%	20%
Total.	60%	40%	-

Evaluation method and criteria

1. Quiz / Exercise: 40 points out of 40
(At the beginning of each lesson, you will be provided a quiz to check your understanding of the content of the previous lesson. In some cases, exercises will be given. The quiz and exercise answers will be evaluated on a 5-point scale. The total score will be converted to a maximum of 60 points.)
2. Report: 40 points out of 40
Out of a total of 100 points, 60 points or more will pass.

In each confirmation quiz, if you participate in the lesson properly, you will get a score of 80%.
You can get a score of 60% if you create a well-organized report without cutting corners.

Textbooks and reference materials

Textbook :
　廣瀬千秋訳，「改訂　実感する化学　上巻　地球感動編」，A Project of American Chemical Society, NTS.
(Original textbook: C. H. Middlecamp et al., "Chemistry in Context: Applying Chemistry to Society, 8th Edition, A Project of American Chemical Society", 2015.

Prerequisites

There is no prerequisite for this class.

Office hours and How to contact professors for questions