Atmospheric Chemistry

Learning Outcomes:

The goal of this course is the familiarization of the students with the atmospheric chemistry and the chemical processes that take place in the atmosphere, as well as their education in atmospheric pollutants measurement techniques from chemical processes. After the completion of the course the students will be able to:

• understand the role of the basic atmospheric components
• understand the basic chemical reactions in the troposphere and the stratosphere
• understand the chemistry of the aqueous phase and the reactions that take place in the clouds
• evaluate atmospheric chemistry problems and suggest solutions
• simulate (using the corresponding tools) the chemical reactions under specific environmental conditions
• analyze data and solve problems that are caused by atmospheric chemical processes

Course Content:  
Theory:
1. Introduction in the atmosphere, concentration’s units in the atmosphere, atmospheric composition (ozone, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, sulfur dioxide, organic compounds, halocarbons)
2. Chemistry of the troposphere, photochemical cycle of NO2-NO-O3, oxidation of methane, atmospheric chemistry of organic compounds (formaldehyde, alkanes, alkenes, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, aromatic compounds)
3. Chemistry of the VOC/NOx system, the role of VOCs and NOx, ozone diagram, reactivity of organic compounds and their contribution to ozone formation, atmospheric chemical reactions of inorganic compounds
4. Atmospheric chemistry in the liquid phase, water in the atmosphere, equilibrium between gas and liquid phases and Henry’s law
5. Chemical equilibrium in clouds: carbon dioxide and water, ammonia and water, nitric acid and water
6. Liquid phase reaction rates, oxidation of S(IV) to S(VI)
7. Stratospheric chemistry
8. Analytical methods of atmospheric chemistry study

Laboratory:
EXERCISE 1. Atmospheric ozone measurements
EXERCISE 2: Atmospheric nitrogen oxides measurements
EXERCISE 3: Kinetics of chemical reactions and ozone diagram construction
EXERCISE 4: Fraction of a compound in the liquid phase of a cloud as a function of Henry’s Law constant and distribution of pollutants in cloud water as a function of pH
EXERCISE 5: Oxidation rate of S(IV) by H2O2 and by O3

Suggested Bibliography:  

• «ΣΗΜΕΙΩΣΕΙΣ ΑΤΜΟΣΦΑΙΡΙΚΗΣ ΧΗΜΕΙΑΣ» Ευαγγελία Κωστενίδου, ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟ στο e- class.
• «ΕΡΓΑΣΤΗΡΙΑΚΕΣ ΑΣΚΗΣΕΙΣ ΑΤΜΟΣΦΑΙΡΙΚΗΣ ΧΗΜΕΙΑΣ» Ευαγγελία Κωστενίδου, ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟ στο e-class.
• «CHEMISTRY OF THE UPPER AND LOWER ATMOSPHERE» B. Finlayson- Pitts and J. Pitts J. Academic Press 2000.
•  «ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSISCS» J. Seinfeld, S. Pandis. Wiley Interscience, Second Edition 2006 (Στην βιβλιοθήκη του ΔΠΘ µε αριθµό καταχώρησης QC 879.6.S45 2006).