Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2007 - 2008

Module Title	Chemical and Environmental Waste Cycles
Module Code	CS215
School	School of Chemical Sciences
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Dr Dermot Brougham	Office Number	X117
Level	2	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None

Module Aims

To develop an understanding of the fundamental principles of thermodynamics. To develop reasoning and problem-solving skills. To develop understanding of the theory underlying chemical reactions and to be able to predict the outcomes of elementary reactions. To promote a knowledge of the concepts of elementary chemical kinetics. To improve students' ability to apply theory to practical problems, relevant to industry, research and environmental issues. To develop an appreciation of the complexity of the energy question. To introduce the student to the role of chemistry in the production and use of energy. To provide the student with knowledge of the past, modern and future methods of energy production. To provide the student with an awareness of current hot topics in energy.

Learning Outcomes

Students should be familiar with: The concepts enthalpy, entropy and free energy. Equilibrium reactions and chemical potentials. Order and rates of reactions. Integrated rate equations. Temperature dependence of chemical kinetics. Collision and activated complex theory. The importance of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics in the energy cycles and the technical aspects of energy production and use. The chemistry behind energy production and use. - The latest advances in energy production. Current energy related environmental issues. The future directions/possibilities for energy production and use.

Indicative Time Allowances
	Hours
Lectures	36
Tutorials
Laboratories
Seminars	39
Independent Learning Time	0

Total	75
Placements
Assignments

NOTE

Assume that a 5 credit module load represents approximately 75 hours' work, which includes all teaching, in-course assignments, laboratory work or other specialised training and an estimated private learning time associated with the module.

Indicative Syllabus

- Review: definitions and variables, R, T, U etc.; state functions; first law.

- Second law, entropy, free energy, Gibbs-Helmholtz equation, Clausius-Clapeyron equation, Raoult''s Law, Gibbs-Duhem equation

- Measurement of thermodynamic quantities, standard entropy, enthalpy and Gibbs free energy, third law. - Equilibrium and kinetics, rates and order of reactions, stoichiometry vs. molecularity, mechanisms, determining the rate law, law of mass action.

- Methods of determining reaction, overall order of a reaction, elementary reactions and complex mechanisms, reaction energetics, microscopic reversibility, steady state approximation. - Temperature dependence of reaction rates, Arrhenius equation, activation energy and activated complex theory, measuring the activation energy, sampling and continuous methods, collision theory.

-Complex reactions, chain processes, initiation, propagation, termination, reactions in solution, transition state theory. - Natural energy flows. - Human energy consumption. - Fossils fuels; - Origins, carbon cycle, coal, oil, gas.

- Introduction to nuclear energy; - Radioactivity, naturally occurring isotopes, fission, fission reactors, hazards, fusion.

- Introduction to renewable energy;

- Solar (heating and photovoltaics) biomass (thermal and biochemical conversion), biofuels (biodiesel and bioethanol), wind, ocean and geothermal energy. - Future clean energy;

- The hydrogen economy.