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PLS 671: Environmental Soil Chemistry
 

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Policy and Syllabus
for PLS671

Soil Chenistry, Fall 2006, 4 Credits
Section 001


Lecture:
TR 11:00am - 12:15pm
Room A-6 Agriculture Science Center-North (AGN)

Lab:
M 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Room N-103 (AGN)

Instructor
Dr. Christopher J. Matocha
mail: cjmato2@uky.edu
http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Agronomy/SoilChemistry/
Office: N-122R, Ag. Sci. Ctr.-North
Office Phone: (859) 257-9312
Fax: (859) 257-2185   
Office Hours: TR 10:00am-11:00am and/or by appointment
Research Analyst: Jerry Haszler
Office Telephone: (859) 257-3515


 
 
I. Course Objectives:

A.)  Familiarize students with physical and chemical aspects of soil components.

B.)  Synthesize information and make predictions about environmental reactivity in various  
         processes related to soil chemistry.

C.) Apply soil chemistry principles to the research interests of the student.
     
II. Reading Material:

A.) Primary Textbook:


1.)  Environmental Soil Chemistry (Second Edition Academic Press, 2003, San Diego, CA)
      by D.L. Sparks

B.) Secondary References: (can check these out in N-103)


1.)  The Chemistry of Soils by G. Sposito


2.) Chemical Processes in Soils by M.A. Tabatabai and D.L. Sparks


3.)  Minerals in Soil Environments by J.B. Dixon and S.B. Weed
     4.) Additional journal articals will be handed out during the semester.
III.  Grading System:
   
%

Mid-term exam-------------------------------
20

Five problem sets (5 x 4%)-----------------
20

Comprehensive Final------------------------
30

Laboratory Reports (2)/Group Presentations
20

Student Problem
 10
 
TOTAL
100
IV. Grading Criteria:

     %
 Grade

    > 90------------------------------------------
A

80 - 89------------------------------------------
B

70 - 79------------------------------------------
C

60 - 69------------------------------------------
D

    < 59------------------------------------------
F





 
V. Prerequisites: PLS 470G, 581; CHE 442G
     
VI. Course Format and Expectations:
 

The student is responsible for assigned reading, lecture materials, and assigned problem sets.  Handouts will be provided for material not contained in the required textbook.  Additional readings and assigned homework assignments will be posted on the Web.  Instructional objectives will be provided as a learning aid and preparation for closed book mid-term and final exams.  Each student is expected to give a concise prsentation (5-10 min) on a problem related to his/her thesis or dissertation research at the end of the semester.
     

Students are expected to work individually. Cheating and/or plagiarism on homework and/or exams will not be tolerated, and will be dealt with according to University policy.
     
  Unexcused absence from any exam will result in a corresponding reduction (up to 20%) in your exam grade.  Students will not be formally penalized for unexcused absences from lectures.  Homework submitted after the due date for unexcused reasons will be subject to a 10% reduction per day.  
For further information, see Students Rights and Responsibilities at: http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Code/part2.html

   
VII. General Comments:

You are encouraged to participate in class and to speak with me at any time concerning questions about any portion of the course work.
 


VIII. Important Dates (tentative) to remember:
  Homework Sets
Due Date
Univ. Holiday/No class

HW #1
9/07/06
LaborDay  9/6/06

HW #2
9/21/06
Fall Break 10/6/06

HE #3
10/05/06
ASA Meetings 11/12-11/16/06

Mid-term exam
10/10/06


1st lab report
 10/31/06

HW #4
11/02/06
Thanksgiving 11/23/06
 
HW #5
11/28/06

2nd lab report/Present
 12/05/06
 Last Day of Classes 12/8/06

Student Problems
 12/07/06
Final Exam 12/12/06  10:30am





 


Lecture Syllabus for Soil Chemistry PLS 671



1.   Overview of Soil Chemistry and Review of Chemical Principles (2 lectures)
  1.)   Periodic Table
  2.)  Thermodynamics
  3.)  Kinetics
   
2.    Inorganic Soil Components (4) Sparks, Chapter 2
  1.)  Structure and Characterization
  2.)  Phyllosilicates
  3.)  Metal Oxides
     
3.    Soil Organic Matter (3) Sparks , Chapter 3

1.)  Functional Groups

2.)  Chemical and Structural Characteristics of Humic Substances
     
4.   Soil Solution-Solid Phase Equilibria (4) Sparks, Chapter 4, 9 and 10

1.)  Soil Acidity and Salinity

2.)  Chemical Speciation

3.)  Computer Modeling-MINEQL+

4.)  Weathering Processes
     
5.  Surface Reactions in Soils (6) Sparks, Chapters 1, 5-7

1.)  Ion Exchange

2.)  Chemisorption/Desorption

3.)  Equilibrium-based Sorption Models

4.)  Kinetics

5.)  Deducing Sorption-Desorption Mechanisms using Spectroscopic and Microscopic Techniques

6.)  Nutrient Management

7.)  Colloid Chemistry/Double Layer Theory
     
6.  Electron Transfer Reactions in Soils (3) Sparks, Chapter 8

1.)  Nonmetals

2.)  Transition Metals - Inorganic Pollutants

3.)  Organic Pollutants
 

7.   Student Lab Presentations (1)


8.   Student Research Problems (1)
     






  

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