Objectives

Grade 3 - pass

Grade 4 – pass with credit

Grade 5 – pass with distinction

I. Describe how soil minerals and organic matter are built up, and how they affect the chemical composition of the soil water.

The student should be able to describe

• the principles of X-ray diffraction of single crystals and crystalline powders and various types of close-packed arrangements;
• the atomic structure of type structures as magnesium, aluminum, sodium chloride and cesium chloride;
• the principle structures of silicate and clay minerals;
• the principles of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersion spectroscopy and their use for mineral identification.
• the principle of weathering processes, and the balancing of chemical formulas of weathering reactions;
• the chemical composition of soil organic matter and its importance for the soil and water system.

In addition, the student should be able to

• present a general overview of silicate and clay minerals including their names, chemical formulas and structural build up;
• calculate Miller indices for peaks in the diffraction patterns from structures with orthogonal symmetries (cubic, tetragonal and orthorhombic).
• calculate atomic distances in simple orthogonal structures.

In addition, the student should be able to

• present a detailed overview of silicate and clay minerals including their names, formulas and structural build up;
• describe how organic matter interacts with acid and metal ions using chemical equilibria and formulas.

Objectives

Grade 3 - pass

Grade 4 – pass with credit

Grade 5 – pass with distinction

II. Use computer based approaches for identification of soil minerals

The student should be able to use a computer-based approach to identification of mineral phases and give an overview of its main structure.

The student should be able to use a computer-based approach to identification of mineral phases and explain and discuss its main structure.

The student should be able to use a computer-based approach to identification of mineral phases and reflect on its weaknesses and limitations.

Objectives

Grade 3 - pass

Grade 4 – pass with credit

Grade 5 – pass with distinction

III. Describe basic chemical principles controlling the solubility of inorganic elements and organic pollutants in the soil-water system.

The student should be able to

• describe the basic principles and concepts of mineral solubility as well as the adsorption of ions and small molecules onto mineral surfaces;
• describe the basic principles of complex formation in a soil-water solution including the concept of hard and soft metal ions and ligands;
• make rough estimates through calculations of the distribution of ions and molecules between aqueous soil solution and adsorbed to mineral surfaces;
• give examples of typical elements in natural systems which illustrate different mechanisms of solubility control;
• describe the principles of distribution processes of organic pollutants in soil and water system;
• briefly describe the Swedish methodology used for risk assessment of areas contaminated with heavy metals and/or organic compounds;
• give an overview of common remediation methods used for contaminated soils.

The student should have a deeper understanding of:

• the basic principles of complex formation in a soil-water solution;
• describe the basic principles of complex formation in a soil-water solution including the concept of hard and soft metal ions and ligands;
• make predictions through calculations of the distribution of ions and molecules between aqueous soil solution and adsorbed to mineral surfaces;
• how the solubility of typical elements in natural systems is regulated and controlled;
• the principles of distribution processes of organic pollutants in soil and water system.

In addition, the student should be able to explain in detail

• the basic principles and concepts of mineral solubility, adsorption of ions and small molecules onto organo-mineral surfaces;
• the significance of conditional stability constants of elements, and the expected effects of these constants in natural systems;
• the principles of distribution processes of organic pollutants in soil and water system.

Objectives

Grade 3 - pass

Grade 4 – pass with credit

Grade 5 – pass with distinction

IV. Carry out quantitative calculations of various applied soil and water chemistry problems.

The student should be able to

• perform calculations on simple systems in terms of mineral solubility, adsorption, complex formation and redox conditions;
• perform calculations on simple systems in terms of the partitioning of organic pollutants between the solid, solution and gas phases.

The student should be able to

• calculate stability constants obtained from experimental data on intermediate systems;
• perform calculations on intermediate systems in terms of mineral solubility, adsorption, complex formation and redox conditions;
• perform calculations on intermediate systems in terms of the partitioning of organic pollutants between the solid, solution and gas phases.

The student should be able to

• calculate stability constants obtained from experimental data on complex systems;
• perform calculations on complex systems in terms of mineral solubility, adsorption, complex formation and redox conditions;
• perform calculations on complex systems in terms of the partitioning of organic pollutants between the solid, solution and gas phases.

V. Use common computer-based geochemical models.

The student should be able to use a computer-based geochemical model and give an overview of its main structure.

The student should be able to use a computer-based geochemical model and explain and discuss in detail its main structure.

The student should be able to use a computer-based geochemical model and reflect on its strengths, weaknesses and limitations.