INTRODUCTION to GEOCHEMISTRY (ERTH 2140; CHEM 2540)

Spring 2009

This course is about the chemical systems and processes of the planet we live on. It covers a diversity of topics in both chemistry and geology, with two specific objectives: 1) to help students develop skills in chemistry that are useful in the study of earth systems; and 2) to provide students with insight into the origins of—and the interactions among—the Earth's atmosphere, oceans and rocks. The overarching goal of the course is to shed light on the Earth as a collection of complex, interacting chemical systems—systems that provide ample opportunities to apply both basic and advanced principles of chemistry.

It will be helpful to have taken some introductory-level geoscience (e.g., Geology I and/or II), but these are not formal prerequisites for the course, and no geology background will be assumed. Students who have not taken introductory college-level chemistry might find the course a struggle, and should consult with the instructor before the term gets underway. Some prior knowledge of physical chemistry will be helpful, but much of this will be taught as we go. Basic knowledge of calculus will be assumed.

The 2-hour class periods (MTh 10:00-11:50) will be used for formal introduction of material in lecture format (generally not for the full 110 minutes!), and also for supplementary discussion, in-class exercises, and introduction of homework assignments. Attendance is encouraged simply because we will not follow the text page by page (or even chapter by chapter), and you will be at a disadvantage if you have not participated—or at least listened—in class.

This semester we will be working with an on-line (free!) text entitled simply "Geochemistry". This text, written by Prof. W.M. White of Cornell University, is an outstanding reference volume where you can find in-depth treatment of most of the topics we cover in class.  You can get there by clicking on:

                     http://www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/classes/geo455/Chapters.HTML.

At this site, you will find the entire text —something like 700 pages—in the form of 15 chapters and 3 appendices as separate files in PDF format. You can download these to your computer and/or print them out (you'll need the Adobe Acrobat reader to do this; you can link to a free download from Prof. White's website). A hardcopy version is slated to appear "soon" from  Johns Hopkins University Press. I think Prof. White would be pleased to have input from us, so don't hesitate to communicate ideas or criticisms (or praise!) to me or directly to him.

There will be three exams during the term, on FEBRUARY 17, MARCH 26, and APRIL 27 (see calendar below).  The exams will cover material presented during the preceding 7 or 8 class periods.  One exam score will be "de-valued" as described under "grading" below, and the third exam, although not a cumulative final, will include extra-credit questions draw from material covered during the first 2/3 of the course.  A review session will be held before each exam.

There will be 6 or 7 homework assignments over the course of the semester, handed out at ~2 week intervals beginning in the second week of class. Each of these is expected to require no more than 2-3 hours (often much less) for completion. Assignments will be designed as "intuition-builders" or to illustrate concepts and principles, not as crank-and-grind busywork.

Grading

Exam scores will comprise 75% of the course grade. The lowest exam score will be weighted only 15% (the other two 30%).  The remaining 25% of the course grade will come from homework. 

Good student-teacher relationships are built on trust. Students should have confidence that we have made appropriate decisions about the structure and content of this course, and that we will make a strong effort to accommodate the varying needs of a diverse group of students. Teachers, in turn, must have confidence that the assignments and exams you turn in represent your own work.

The Rensselaer Handbook defines various forms of Academic Dishonesty and procedures for responding to them. All forms are violations of the trust between students and teachers. Students should familiarize themselves with the appropriate portion of the Rensselaer Handbook and note that the penalties for plagiarism and other forms of cheating can be quite harsh.

In this course, collaboration or group work in the completion of recitation exercises and homework is encouraged. However, the final paperwork you hand in should be written by you in your own words. Collaboration of any sort on exams will be considered cheating.

Spring 2009 list of topics

Topics to be covered January 12-February 12:

· Nature and scope of Geochemistry; Introduction to the Earth

· Radioactive Decay and the Age of the Earth

· Origin and distribution of the Chemical Elements

· Differentiation of the Earth: Core, Mantle and Crust

· Differentiation II: Oceans and Atmosphere

· The Carbon Cycle

· Free energy and equilibrium

· Chemical potential

· Phase diagrams

· Solutions

· Oxygen buffers and oxidation potential

· Kinetics & disequilibrium

· Diffusion

Part 3: Selected Topics and Applications

· Chemical evolution of the oceans

· Biogeochemistry

· Nanogeochemistry

Class meeting calendar

Handouts for lectures

To get the class handouts for the date you want, click on the appropriate button for a PDF file you can print or download...

  Jan. 12, Intro.      Jan. 15      Jan. 22      Jan. 26      Jan. 29      Feb. 2      Feb. 5

  Feb. 9      Feb. 23      Feb. 26      Mar. 2      Mar. 16      Mar. 23      Apr. 2

  Apr. 6      Apr. 13

Exercises, homework, etc.

  HW1 (due Feb. 5)       class exercise (Jan. 22)      HW2 (due Feb. 19)      class exercise (Feb. 9)      Exam 1 study questions

  Exam 1, 2007S      HW3 (due Mar. 16)      HW4 (due April 2)      Exam 2 study questions      Exam 2, 2008S

  HW5 (due May 1)      Exam 3 study questions      Old exam 3

G-X ANIMATIONS    solids only    binary eutectic    liquid-vapor (or solid-solution - liquid)    azeotrope

Reading to accompany and augment lectures (will be updated as the semester progresses)

Below are suggestions for reading to supplement the material discussed in class.  Note that the text does not cover the topics in the same order we will!

Geochemistry as a Discipline:  White, chapter 1, sections 1.1 - 1.2.

Nature and Differentiation of the Earth:  White, chapter 1, sections 1.5.1 - 1.5.3.

Radioactive Decay and Age Dating: White, chapter 8, sections 8.1 - 8.3

Nucleosynthesis (origin of the elements): White, chapter 10, pp. 421-431 (covered in class 2/3)

Solar system and planet formation: White, chapter 10, pp. 458-470 (covered in class 2/9 - 2/12)

Isotope fractionation: theory & processes: White, chapter 9, pp. 363-378

Diffusion:  White, chapter 5, pp. 180-189