Contaminant Chemisty 101
A review of chemistry principles essential for understanding
contaminant transport, fate, and remediation
Course I.D. CHEM-403A (Course 1 of 3 in a Series)
April 26, 2010, 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. (1 Day)
Northwest Environmental Training Center :: HEADQUARTERS
650 South Orcas Street, Suite 220
Seattle, WA 98108

Instructor: Erick McWayne, Northwest Environmental Training Center

Register Online | Directions | Accommodations | Course Brochure PDF | Course Catalog
Description: This course provides participants with an overview/refresher of key chemistry concepts associated with environmental contamination and provides a foundation for understanding contaminant transport, fate, and remediation. This material is intended for environmental professionals who are not chemists and require a fundamental understanding of chemistry principles for their work. This course is recommended for all environmental professionals working with contaminated soil and water with minimal formal training in the subject. It is also recommended for project managers seeking a review of contaminant chemistry. This course includes a review of chemical naming rules (e.g., understanding what 1,1,1-TCA is) and how to use chemical names to predict molecular geometry and environmental behavior.
Course Topics:
  • Overview of Physical and Chemical Properties of Contaminants (S, Koc, Kow, KH, TB, TM)
  • Periodic Chart Applications to Remediation
  • Isotopes, Ions, and Chemical Bonds
  • Predicting Molecular Geometry and Behavior
  • Solubility Rules, Precipitation, and Applications for Inorganic
  • Remediation Chemical Reactions, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics
  • Stoichiometry (balancing reactions)
  • Oxidation States and Redox Reactions
  • Chemical Equilibrium and Limiting Reactants
  • Empirical, Chemical, and Structural Formulas
  • Mass-Based and Molar-Based Concentrations
  • Visualizing Molecules with Lewis Dot Notation
  • Polyatomic Oxoanions (nitrate, phosphate, chromate, perchlorate, permanganate, etc.)
  • Organic Molecules and IUPAC Nomenclature
  • Functional Groups - Alcohols, Aldehydes, Amines, Aromatics, Ethers, Ketones, and Organometallics
  • BTEX - Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene
This course is part of a series, and is immediately followed by the Contaminant Chemistry and Transport in Soil and Groundwater Workshop (CHEM-403B) April 27 - 28, 2010 and Monitored Natural Attenuation April 29 - 30, 2010. Attendees may register for either course individually or both courses. A discount applies when registering for both courses. Courses will begin each day at 8 A.M. and end at 5 P.M. Attendees will be given the opportunity to apply the course material during hands on exercises offered throughout the course.

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

- Identify common physical and chemical properties that affect chemical fate and transport in soil and water;
- Use molecular shape to predict chemical behavior (solubility, vapor pressure, Henry's law constant, boiling point, melting point, and viscosity);
- Understand chemical solubility in polar versus nonpolar solvents;
- Predict whether anions or cations will be more mobile in groundwater;
- Express contaminant concentrations in terms of mass and moles, and predict limiting reactants;
- Understand the concepts of chemical equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics and how they affect remediation;
- Describe the structure of common organic chemical contaminants using diagramming methods such as the condensed structural formula and Lewis Dot notation; and
- Identify and name simple organic chemicals (e.g., 2,4,5-trichlorophenol) using the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry nomenclature system.

Prerequisites: Some college level chemistry is required (even if it was a long time ago).

Education Level: Fundamental overview/refresher

Course Materials: Each participant will receive a copy of the course proceedings including notes and reference material on the first day of the course.

Continuing Education Units: 0.7 CEU's

Registration: $350/$295*
(*reduced tuition is available to employees of Native American tribes, government agencies, and nonprofits; students; and NAEP, NEBC, NWAEP members). An additional discount applies when registering for CHEM-403A, CHEM-403B and GHYD-410. You may register via the link below or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at 206-762-1976. Register Online!

What to Bring: Scientific calculator, mechanical pencil, coffee mug and water bottle (to reduce waste). Please wear comfortable clothing appropriate for the prevailing weather.

About the Instructor: Mr. McWayne has fifteen years experience with soil, groundwater, and geophysical investigations for the characterization of contaminant transport and fate; and teaching contaminant chemistry, transport, natural attenuation, and hydrogeology. As an environmental consultant, Mr. McWayne served as a project manager for remedial investigation and feasibility studies at numerous Department of Defense and other contaminated sites. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Northwest Environmental Training Center and teaches workshops in transport and fate, environmental chemistry, and hydrogeology across the country.

Cancellation Policy: Registration fees are fully refundable up to 30 days prior to the event and 50 percent refundable (or 100% credit) thereafter up to 3 business days prior to the event. No refunds are issued for cancellations occurring less than 3 business days before the start day. Course registration fees and cancellation policy are subject to change without notice.

Disability Accommodations: To request disability accommodations, please contact us at info@nwetc.org or (206) 762-1976 at least 30 days prior to the event.

Northwest Environmental Training Center
A 501(c)(3) non-profit program of EOS Alliance
650 S. Orcas Street, Suite 220, Seattle, Washington 98108
Phone: (206)762-1976, Fax: (206)762-1979, info@nwetc.org
www.nwetc.org