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 principal structures of silicate and clay minerals;
• the principles of weathering processes, and the balancing of chemical formulas of weathering reactions;
• the factors influencing mineral weathering rates and how these affect soil formation and development
• 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;

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. Describe basic chemical principles controlling the solid-solution partitioning 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;

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;
• 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

III. Analyse and quantitatively describe 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.
• on a basic level, understand the environmental aspects of applied soil and water chemistry problems from a chemical perspective, including: nutrient leaching from soils, environmental risks from metals, PFAS and microplastics, acidification processes
• 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 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.
• demonstrate a good ability to analyse the environmental aspects of applied soil and water chemistry problems from a chemical perspective, including: nutrient leaching from soils, environmental risks from metals, PFAS and microplastics, acidification processes

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.
• demonstrate a very good ability to analyse the environmental aspects of applied soil and water chemistry problems from a chemical perspective, including: nutrient leaching from soils, environmental risks from metals, PFAS and microplastics, acidification processes

IV. 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.