Physico-chemical methodologies for the environment

Learning Objectives

• Physics applied to the environment

  During the course some physical phenomena that are particularly relevant in the environmental field are investigated. These include: fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, atmospheric pollution, radioactivity and environmental contamination.

• Principles of chemistry and agrochemistry

  Include the basic chemical notions necessary to increase the readers’ understanding of soil-plant systems. Given this knowledge, the technologist will have evaluation criteria for use in managing the soil and its vegetation and to decide on the future use of areas which are marginally or totally at risk.

Detailed Course Content

• Physics applied to the environment

  Lectures: - presentation of the experimental method on which physics is based; - derivation of the laws that underlie models and theories.

  Frontal exercises: additions to topics covered during the lessons, proposition and resolution of exercises of particular interest, with the aim of making the student understand the methods of setting up and solving the proposed problems.

• Principles of chemistry and agrochemistry

  Elementary substances (oxides, hydroxides, acids, salts); equilibria in solution; pH; buffer solutions; chemical bonds; oxidation numbers; oxide-reduction reactions; main functional groups of organic compounds; sugars, fats and proteins.

  Chemical physical and biological properties of soils; primary metabolism of plants; cycle of the main nutrients in the soil-plant system.

Textbook Information

• Physics applied to the environment

  Serway – Principi di Fisica – volume unico - Edises

  Halliday - Resnick - Walker Fondamenti di Fisica - volume unico

• Principles of chemistry and agrochemistry

  1. P. Sequi. Fondamenti di chimica del suolo. Pàtron Editore.

  2. P. Violante. Chimica del suolo e della nutrizione delle piante. Edagricole.

  3. M. Bosetto, I. Lozzi. Elementi di biochimica agraria. Aracne.

  4. Electronic supports supplied by the teacher; scientific articles from national and international journals and teacher lecture notes.