PřF:GA831 Chemical principles of geochem - Course Information

GA831 Chemical principles of geochemistry

Extent and Intensity

1/0/0. 1 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Taught in person.

Teacher(s)

doc. Ing. Jiří Faimon, Dr. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

doc. Ing. Jiří Faimon, Dr.
Department of Geological Sciences – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Ing. Jana Pechmannová
Supplier department: Department of Geological Sciences – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 38 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

The course goal is extension of inorganic chemistry knowledge and improvement of chemical thinking. The course is predominantly aimed at students of geochemistry. It seeks the tight relation between chemical and geochemical topics. The course is based on quantum chemistry and bond theory. On background of periodic law, there are discussed in detail geochemically attractive elements of A-groups, transition metals (B-groups), lanthanides, and actinides.

Learning outcomes

Student will be able:
- to estimate the basic chemical properties and behavior of the element from its position in the periodic system
- to better apply the general knowledge of the principles of general chemistry to geological systems and natural processes

Syllabus

• Elementary particles: Electron, proton, neutron, and photon. Electromagnetic spectrum, wavelength. Radio-, micro-, infrared-, visible-, ultraviolet-, X-ray, and gamma- waveband.
  Atoms: Nucleus, shells and subshells. Nuclides and isotopes. Atomic mass number, atomic weights. Element abundance: solar system, Earth's crust, meteorites. Stable isotopes. Radioactivity, radioelements decay. Alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. Parent and daughter elements, half-life.
  Quantum theory: Quantum mechanics, energy levels. Excitation of atoms, ionization and excitation potential. Absorption and emission of photon. Spectral lines. Wave mechanics, equation of wave.
  Schrödinger's wave equation: Wave function. Derivation and solution of Schrödinger's equation. Principal, subsidiary, magnetic, and spin quantum numbers. Pauli's exclusion principle. s-, p-, d-, and f-orbitals.
  Building-up principle: Periodical law, periodic table. Rows (periods) and column (groups). Hund's rule.
  Chemical bonding: Valences. Covalent and ionic bonds, electronegativity, polarization of bond, partial charges. Hybridization. Molecular orbitals. H2 molecule, HF molecule. Hydrogen bond. Van der Waals bonds.
  Coordination bond: Vacant orbitals and ligands. Hybridization of central atom. Molecular orbitals. Ligand field theory, coordination numbers. Complexes, stability constants, geochemical significance.
  Group IA and IIA elements: Geochemically important elements, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, valences, behavior, reactions, minerals, analyses of formulas. Rb-Sr system, K-Ar system. Magnesium. Brucite trictaedral layer.
  Group IIIA elements: Geochemically important elements, valences, behavior, reactions, minerals, analyses of formulas. Aluminium. Gibbsite dioctaedral layer.
  Group IVA elements, carbon: Carbon, carbon isotopes, carbon dioxide, carbonates, carbon cycle.
  Organic matter: Proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, lignin, organic substances in recent sediments and sedimentary rocks, petroleum, peat, lignite, bituminous and anthracite coal, radiocarbon system.
  Group IVA elements, silicon: Silicon, silicates, aluminosilicates, minerals, analyses of formulas. CIPW norm.
  Group IVA, VA, VIA, and VIIA elements: Geochemically important elements, behavior, reactions, minerals, analyses of formulas. Stable isotopes. Oxygen isotopes. Nitrogen isotopes. Nitrogen cycle. Sulfur isotopes. Sulfur cycle.
  Inert gasses: He, Ne, Ar. Kr, Xe. Radon, radioactive decay, isopes.
  Transition elements (d-elements): Three lines of d-elements. Behavior, reactions, complexes, minerals.
  Inner-transition elements (f-elements): Lanthanoids (rare-earth group): Rare-Earth elements (REE). Character, behaviour, geochemical significance. Light (LREE) and heavy (HREE) rare-Earth elements, chondrite-normalized ratio, MORB-basalts. Negative and positive europium anomaly. Sm-Nd isotope system. Actinoids: Nonstable isotopes, uranium, thorium. Gamma spectrometry. U-Th-Pb system.

Literature

recommended literature
• GREENWOOD, N. N. and Alan EARNSHAW. Chemistry of the elements. Second edition. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 1997, xxii, 1341. ISBN 0750633654. info
• COTTON, F. Albert. Advanced inorganic chemistry. 6th ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1999, xv, 1355. ISBN 0471199575. info
• George W. Luther III, 2016. Inorganic Chemistry for Geochemistry and Environmental Sciences: Fundamentals and Applications. pp. 456, John Wiley and Sons, ISBN: 978-1-118-85137-1.

not specified
• P. Atkins, L. Jones, L. Laverman, 2016. Chemical Principles. Macmillan Learning. EAN: 9781319154196, ISBN: 1319154190.

Teaching methods

lectures, class exercises

Assessment methods

written test

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught once in two years.
Information on the per-term frequency of the course: Bude otevřeno v jarním semestru 2024/2025.
The course is taught: in blocks.

• Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2025/GA831