2024 Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Geochemistry B
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Yoko Kebukawa / Romain Alexis Gilbert
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Mon / 7-8 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.B211
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 17, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Students will learn the basic properties of elements and materials, from their properties to reactions, and their relation to geochemistry. Analytical methods for obtaining geochemical data will also be introduced.
Course description and aims
The goal is to acquire basic knowledge of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and analytical chemistry, which are necessary for studying earth and planetary sciences. At the end of this course, students will be able to understand the fundamentals of chemical reactions and the properties of elements relevant to geochemistry, as well as analytical methods for geosciences.
Keywords
Atoms, Molecules, Nature of elements, Elemental abundances, Analytical chemistry
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Before coming to class, students should read the course schedule and prepare for the topics with handouts and references.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Solutions, solvents, acids, and bases | Understanding basic properties of solutions and acids/bases |
| Class 2 | Redox reactions and Eh-Ph diagram | Understanding of redox reaction and electric potential |
| Class 3 | Polyatomic anions and coordination chemistry (complexes) | Understanding properties of polyatomic anions and formation of complexes |
| Class 4 | Geochemical classification of elements | Understanding of lithophile, siderophile, chalcophile, and atomosphile elements |
| Class 5 | Distribution of elements in the Earth | Understanding of distribution of elements to minerals and partition coefficients |
| Class 6 | Wet chemical analysis | Understanding of wet chemical analysis as a basis for analytical chemistry |
| Class 7 | Instrumental analysis (1) | Understanding of instrumental analytical methods for inorganic materials |
| Class 8 | Types and nomenclature of organic compounds | Understanding types and nomenclature of organic compounds |
| Class 9 | Electronic structures and redox reactions | Understanding of distribution of elements to minerals and partition coefficients |
| Class 10 | Acids/bases and dissociation constants | Understanding electronic structures and redox reactions of organic compounds |
| Class 11 | Reaction mechanism of organic compounds | Understanding of addition, elimination, and substitution reactions of organic compounds |
| Class 12 | Stereochemistry | Understanding steric properties of organic compounds |
| Class 13 | Organic chemistry of natural products | Understanding properties and origins of natural organic matter |
| Class 14 | Instrumental analysis (2) | Understanding of instrumental analytical methods for organic materials |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Handouts will be provided during the class
Reference books, course materials, etc.
P.W. Atkins "Atkins' Physical chemistry 10th edition" Oxford University Press
F.A. Cotton, G. Wilkinson, P.L. Gaus, "Basic Inorganic chemistry, 3rd edition" Wiley
G.D. Christian, P.K. Dasgupta, K.A. Schug "Analytical Chemistry" Wiley
Y. Sano, Y. Takahashi "Geochemistry" Kyoritsu Shuppan (In Japanese)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students will be assessed on their understanding of basic inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and analytical chemistry that are required for studying earth and planetary sciences.
Students' course scores are based on final exam (100%).
Related courses
- EPS.B202 ： Thermodynamics (EPS course)
- EPS.A330 ： Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry
- LAS.A101 ： Earth and Space Sciences A
- LAS.A102 ： Earth and Space Sciences B
Prerequisites
No prerequisites