2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Chemical Science and Engineering Graduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
Advanced Geochemistry
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Sakae Toyoda / Keita Yamada
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- CAP.I435
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Geochemistry is a discipline that aims to portray the whole and detailed chemical picture of nature that includes the Earth, solar system, and universe. This course explains geochemical point of view that intends to understand objects/phenomena from behavior of elements, chemical compounds, and isotopes. It also focuses on experimental methods, and developments in interdisciplinary research fields.
The contents of Environmental chemistry (CAP.I405) course is reviewed from a wide point of view. We explain how the analytical methods instructed in Environmental analytical chemistry (CAP.I415) is applied to understanding of compositions of the Earth/universe and their cycles, as well as basic knowledge for Material cycle analysis (CAP.I535)
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
(1) Understand the concept of geochemistry that is based on fundamental knowledge of chemistry, physics, biology, geoscience etc.
(2) Understand the effectiveness and impact of geochemistry that serves as a basis for earth science, environmental science, ecology, geobiology, etc.
Keywords
History of the Earth, Geosphere, Earth's surface environment, elements and isotopes
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Two‒thirds of each class is devoted to fundamentals and the rest to advanced content or application. At the end of each class, students are given excercise problems to confirm their understanding of the lecture.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction and solid-earth chemistry | Explain the origin of elements, isotopes, and elemental composition of the Earth. |
| Class 2 | Atmospheric chemistry | Give examples of production and decomposition processes of trace gases and explain the mean residence time. |
| Class 3 | Chemical oceanography | Explain the cycles of carbonates and nutrients in the ocean. |
| Class 4 | Biogeochemistry | Explain the effect of microbes, plants, and animals on the material cycle on the Earth. |
| Class 5 | Organic geochemistry | Explain how the global carbon cycle and its historical change are elucidated using organic matter. |
| Class 6 | Other topics and summary | Give examples of other topics of geochemistry. |
| Class 7 | Final exam |
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)
Unspecified.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
PowerPoint documents used in class is available in advance via the T2SCHOLA system. Students are expected to use these documents for preparation and review purposes.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Scores are based on exercise problems (50%) and final exam (50%).
Related courses
- CAP.I405 ： Environmental Chemistry
- CAP.I419 ： Analytical Techniques for Environmental Chemistry
- CAP.I536 ： Advanced Material Cycle Analysis
- CAP.I481 ： Introduction to the Frontiers of Environmental Chemistry
Prerequisites
No prerequisites.