Basic Environmental Chemistry

Course title

S2085000

Click to show questionnaire result at 2019

Course description

Since the Industrial Revolution, the world's population has increased exponentially, from less than 700 million in 1700 to 8 billion today. In order to feed this growing population, we have expanded cultivated land, pumped up groundwater for irrigation, and increased food production by using large amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which has led to deforestation and a continuing sharp decline in the number of species. In addition, as a result of consuming large amounts of natural resources and expanding material production in the pursuit of a better life, the impact on the environment of the large amount of waste produced is also becoming a serious problem. Under these circumstances, there is a rapidly growing call for the realization of a sustainable world that takes into account the conservation of the global environment.
In this class, we will approach the issue of the global environment from the perspective of matter and energy, and in the process, we will learn the knowledge and principles of chemistry that are essential for solving these problems. As a final project, you will research new technologies that will enhance sustainability, either individually or in groups, and then write a report.
The basic chemistry you learn in this class will definitely be useful as a foundation for scientific thinking when you advance to specialized courses and even after graduating from university, if you become interested in global environmental issues again and become involved in activities to realize a sustainable world.

Purpose of class

Students will acquire the knowledge and principles of chemistry necessary to understand various issues surrounding the global environment, and will be able to understand reports in newspapers, magazines, and on television from a chemical perspective. In addition, they will lay the foundations so that they can resume their own chemical studies independently in the future when more specialized chemical knowledge is required. They will also learn how to solve problems through research activities on new technologies that enhance sustainability.

Goals and objectives

	Goals and objectives	Course Outcomes
1.	Understand the properties of the elements in relation to the periodic law. Also understand the types of bonds between atoms that make up matter and the characteristics of each type of bonds.	3.
2.	Can explain the mechanisms of air pollution, ozone depletion, global warming, water pollution and acid rain, and their countermeasures from a chemical perspective.	3.
3.	Can explain the advantages and disadvantages of various energy resources, taking into account their impact on the global environment.	3.
4.	Can explain the properties of plastics and their production and recycling methods, based on your chemical knowledge.	3.
5.	Can research materials on new technologies that enhance sustainability and summarize them in a report. You can also give a persuasive explanation on such chemical-related topics.	3.

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

	Quizzes and Exercises	Evaluation of Report	Total.
1.	10%	0%	10%
2.	20%	5%	25%
3.	20%	5%	25%
4.	10%	5%	15%
5.		25%	25%
Total.	60%	40%	-

Language

Japanese

Class schedule

	Class schedule	HW assignments (Including preparation and review of the class.)	Amount of Time Required
1.	Guidance (class achievement objectives, class procedures, grading methods) Introduction: · Extreme weather · What is sustainable development? · Ecological footprint	Research the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).	40分
2.	Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Pollution (1): · Evolution of the earth's atmosphere · Atmospheric composition · Causes of air pollution · Photochemical smog	Take notes on what you learned in the previous class. Read Chapter 2, Sections 2.1-2.4 of the textbook.	160分
2.		Calculate your own ecological footprint using the "Diagnostic Quiz" from Ecological Footprint Japan. https://ecofoot.jp/personal-calculator/	40分
3.	Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Pollution (2): · Acid rain · Health hazards caused by air pollution · Measures to prevent air pollution	Take notes on what you learned in the previous class. Read Chapter 2, Sections 2.5-2.7 of the textbook.	200分
4.	Water Chemistry and Water Pollution (1): · Water as a resource · Chemical properties of water · Acidification of seawater	Take notes on what you learned in the previous class. Read Chapter 3, Sections 3.1-3.4 of the textbook.	200分
5.	Water Chemistry and Water Pollution (2): · Water pollution · Groundwater pollution · Water supply and sewage	Take notes on what you learned in the previous class. Read Chapter 3, Sections 3.5-3.7 of the textbook.	200分
6.	Ozone Layer Depletion and Protection: · Formation mechanism of ozone layer · Ozone hole · Ozone layer protection measures	Take notes on what you learned in the previous class. Read Chapter 5, Section 5.1 of the textbook.	200分
7.	Climate Change (1): · Heat budget of the earth · Causes of climate change · Sources of greenhouse gases and their countermeasures	Take notes on what you learned in the previous class. Read Chapter 5, Sections 5.2-5.3 of the textbook.	200分
8.	Climate change (2): · Prediction of climate change · Measures to cope with climate change	Take notes on what you learned in the previous class. Read Chapter 6, Sections 6.1-6.3 of the textbook.	200分
9.	Energy resources and sustainability (1): · Energy consumption in the world and Japan · Fossil fuels	Take notes on what you learned in the previous class. Read Chapter 6, Section 6.4 of the textbook.	200分
10.	Energy resources and sustainability (2): · Nuclear Chemistry · Discovery of nuclear fission and its impact on human history · Nuclear power and its future	Take notes on what you learned in the previous class. Read Chapter 6, Sections 6.5-6.6 of the textbook.	200分
11.	Energy Resources and Sustainability (3): · Renewable Energy · The Future of Energy Supply and Demand in Japan	Take notes on what you learned in the previous class. Read Chapter 7, Sections 7.1-7.3 of the textbook.	200分
12.	Garbage and Recycling (1): · Waste Disposal · Social Issues Related to Garbage · Plastic Waste	Take notes on what you learned in the previous class. Read Chapter 7, Sections 7.4-7.7 of the textbook.	200分
13.	Garbage and Recycling (2): · Recycling · Plastics and Carbon Neutrality · Life Cycle Assessment	Take notes on what you learned in the previous class. Read Chapter 8 of the textbook.	200分
14.	Management of Chemical Substances and Concept of Risk: · Safety and Security · Risk Assessment of Chemical · Risk Management of Chemical Substances	Take notes on what you learned in the previous class.	200分
Total.	-	-	2640分

Evaluation method and criteria

1. Quiz and exercises: 40 points out of 40
(A quiz will be given in each lesson to check your understanding of the lesson content. In some cases, exercises will also be given. Answers to the quiz and exercises will be graded on a 5 point scale. The total score will be converted to a 60-point scale).

2. Report: 40 points out of 100
A score of 60 or more out of a total of 100 points is required to pass the course.

For each confirmation quiz, you will receive 80% of the points if you participate properly in class.
You can get 60% if you do not cut corners and prepare a well-organized report.

Feedback on exams, assignments, etc.