GEMS 160 - The Chemistry of Our Environment

This course will look at how chemistry, which is the study of matter and its changes at the molecular level, serves as the basis for understanding and predicting how our technological society impacts the environment in which we live. Basic chemical principles will be introduced and serve as building blocks to explain environmental phenomena we encounter in our everyday life. Laboratory investigations of environmental processes, together with case studies of environmental problems, will be used to build an understanding of the molecular nature of the world around us, and how we interact with it. Topics will include: testing for groundwater pollution, chemicals in the home, chemical manufacturing and recycling, and others. GEMS 100, or any calculus or statistics course is highly recommended prior to enrollment in, or concurrently with this course.

Credits: 4
Terms Offered: As Needed
Attributes: Natural Science I with lab (NSL)