Module FOUD0277: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 1

Department: Foundation Year (Durham)

FOUD0277: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 1

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To develop awareness and knowledge of key environmental issues and the science behind them.
• To introduce a basic bank of chemical knowledge through an environmental science application.
• To develop awareness and knowledge of key environmental issues and the science behind them.
• To encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in a science subject
• To develop confidence in a laboratory situation.

Content

• Fossil fuels formation, photosynthesis, carbon cycle, alternative sources of carbon.
• Burning of fossil fuels, acid rain, formation and preventative measures.
• Atmosphere, structure (troposphere, stratosphere, etc), composition of stratosphere, ozone and chemical interactions.
• Water cycle, water properties.
• Chemistry fundamentals, atoms, molecules, elements, compounds, Periodic Table, bonding, chemical formulae and nomenclature, balancing of simple chemical equations, acids, bases, alkalis, indicators.
• Atomic structure and electronic configurations.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this module the student will have acquired the knowledge to be able to:
• describe the basic concepts involved in: fossil fuel formation and burning, carbon cycle, Acid rain, formation and preventative measures, and constituents of the stratosphere.
• identify the differences between atoms. molecules, elements and compounds and bonding.
• identify characteristics of acids of acids and alkalis.

• By the end of this module the student will have acquired the skills to be able to:
• use the periodic table.
• use simple chemical formulae and equations.

• By the end of the module students will be able to:
• communicate effectively in writing.
• be able to apply number both in the tackling of numerical problems and in the collecting, recording, interpreting and presenting of data.
• be able to demonstrate problem solving skills.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Theory, initial concepts and techniques will be introduced during lectures and demonstrations.
• Much of the learning, understanding and consolidation will take place through the use of structured activities during tutorials and students' own time.
• Knowledge, understanding and ability to use the periodic table and formulae will be assessed by a portfolio of set tasks and exercises and an end of module test.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Students will be given self testing units on a weekly basis.