NRES 487, Soil Chemistry

Taught each Spring Semester.

Course Objective:

Provide the student with a chemically rigorous understanding of soil constituents and processes

Topics covered include:

• Overview of soils and soil constituents
• The clay minerals
• Pertinent principles of chemical thermodynamics
• Mechanisms that control soil acidity or alkalinity
• Chemistry of iron and aluminum
• Redox processes in soils
• Ion exchange, adsorption, and chemical kinetics
• Potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus
• Water potential, swelling, and shrinking
• Clay-organic interactions
• The electrified interface
• Ion diffusion (time permitting)

Background needed:

• One year of introductory chemistry
• Basic knowledge of calculus
• Introductory soils is desirable

Format:

• Multi-media lecture
• Between ten and fifteen homework assignments, submitted on line
• Weekly quizzes in class
• Two mid term exams and a final

Text:

• On-line text written by the professor, along with PowerPoint presentations from lectures -- all available without charge through Illinois Compass

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