This course details the quantitative treatment of chemical processes in aquatic systems such as lakes, oceans, rivers, estuaries, groundwaters, and wastewaters. It includes a brief review of chemical thermodynamics that is followed by discussion of acid-base, precipitation-dissolution, coordination, and reduction-oxidation reactions. Emphasis is on equilibrium calculations as a tool for understanding the variables that govern the chemical composition of aquatic systems and the fate of inorganic pollutants.

Upon successful completion of this course the students will acquire new knowledge and specific skills on the following subjects:

• To solve chemical thermodynamic equations and to determine the speciation of aqueous solutions of acids, bases, and minerals
• To construct pH diagrams and titration curves, and solve the Proton Balance, Electroneutrality, and Mass Balance Equations for the speciation of solutions of acids, bases, and minerals
• To determine the solubility of dissolved carbon dioxide, mineral salts, and metal oxides, hydroxides, and carbonates
• Predict the behavior of environmentally important inorganic components under typical environmental conditions.
• Apply knowledge of the behaviors of individual components in a system to explain real-world aquatic environmental systems.
• Discuss how the presence of individual species, and their interactions, will affect the overall chemistry of a complex environmental system

• Review, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies
• Decision making

• Global Biogeochemical Cycles
• Determination of natural water pH
• Carbon Equilibrium
• Chemical species in solution
• Regulating tension and neutralization ability
• Creation of natural waters composition
• Law of mass action-Determination of equilibrium constants
• Chemical activity and ionic strength
• Fate of metals in the environment
• Hydrolysis and metals complexation
• Inorganic compounds as substituents
• Competitive binding of substituents
• Interaction of aquatic solutions with sediments and soils
• Solubility and Absorption
• Effect of chemical species in the solubility
• Surface complexes formation
• Redox geochemistry
• Heterogeneous reactions and cycles
• Redox equilibrium
• Capacity and redox volumetric measurements (pH scale)
• Applications of environmental geochemistry.

Use of Information and Communication Technology

• Power point presentations
• E-class support

Assessment Method

Ι) Written final examination (100%):
- Questions of theoretical knowledge.
- Theoretical problems to be resolved.

• Aquatic Chemistry: Chemical Equilibria and Rates in Natural Waters, Werner Stumm, James J. Morgan
• Water Chemistry, Vernon L. Snoeyink, David Jenkins