Chemistry of the Environment [Hardcover]

Thomas G. Spiro (Author), William M. Stigliani (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0024152617 | ISBN-13: 978-0024152619 | Publication Date: March 19, 1996 | Edition: 1

For sophomore/junior-level courses in Environmental Chemistry, with a general chemistry prerequisite. Compact yet comprehensive, this text presents an unbiased and readable account of current environmental issues-with an in-depth explanation of the underlying chemical principles that determine the nature of the issues in question. It identifies major environmental issues in the areas of energy, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere, and analyzes the chemical basis of those issues and the links between socio-economic indicators and impacts on the environment. The text helps students to see how their knowledge of basic chemistry can be used to understand the nature of the Earth and the impact of human activity upon it.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This text helps students to see that their knowledge of basic chemistry can be used to understand the nature of the Earth and the impacts that humans are having upon it. Spiro and Stigliani identify major environmental issues in the areas of energy, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere, then analyze the chemical basis of those issues. The text is compact, yet comprehensive, connecting (1) basic chemical understanding to environmental issues and (2) the links between socio-economic indicators and impacts on the environment. Incorporating the newest developments in environmental science, Chemistry of the Environment is the most up-to-date and thorough analysis of Environmental Chemistry.

From the Back Cover

This book stimulates readers by showing them that a thorough knowledge of chemistry can be a powerful tool for understanding the nature of the Earth and the impacts that humans are having upon it. Spiro and Stigl iani identify major environmental issues in the areas of energy, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere, then analyze the chemical basis of those issues. The book is compact, yet comprehensive, connecting (1) basic chemical understanding to environmen tal issues and (2) the links between socio-economic indicators and impacts on the environment.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 356 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall College Div; 1 edition (March 19, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0024152617
• ISBN-13: 978-0024152619
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,987,942 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive but accessible, March 17, 2002

By 

Kristin - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chemistry of the Environment (Hardcover)

Chemistry of the Environment is a great overview of the chemical processes of environmental change. There is a lot of in-depth discussion of air pollution and ozone depletion, as well as water pollution. The book covers virtually every topic in environmental sciences, even going into detail in some ares that are usually classified as environmental geology. The book is written clearly and is accessible for most people who have taken general chemistry courses. A background in organic chemistry would be helpful but is not necessary. This is one of those textbooks that I kept at the end of the semester, to have as a reference guide.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent in covering thoroughly the chemical aspects of energy and environmental problems, November 24, 2006

By 

B. Pankuch (Cranford, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chemistry of the Environment (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

I found the first edition of this book very useful for myself and my students as a reference and the second edition is even more useful. The book is excellent in covering thoroughly the chemical aspects of energy and environmental problems. The book is divided into four parts: Energy, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere/Lithosphere, Biosphere.

The authors discuss the advantages and disadvantages of petroleum, natural gas, coal and the ways of handling the emission of CO2. They include chapters on nuclear, renewable energy, and energy utilization.

I'm particularly impressed with the use of figures which show the many aspects of a system being discussed,with the different contributions from different sources happening at the same time. For instance what happens to the energy annually on earth, organic carbon changing to fossil fuels, energy storage in photosynthesis, maximum work, and systems efficiency, etc. These are great for understanding how many aspects there are to a process.

The section on the atmosphere has chapters that covers air pollution, ozone, climate changes, nitrogen and oxygen chemistry. The section on the hydrosphere covers water resources from a global perspective, properties of water, the importance of acids-bases, solubility, redox reactions, the chemistry of nitrogen and phosphorous. Water quality pollution and its treatment are covered in detail. The section on the biosphere covers toxic materials, the nitrogen cycle in food production use of fertilizers and insecticides.

Dimensional analysis is used extensively throughout and in assigned problems. For instance they calculate an estimate of the energy in a moderate rainstorm to be over a million tons of TNT. They actually show the calculations for other interesting problems such as the increase in energy used in the future with even a small 2.5% annual increase.

You won't find a better or more even-handed exposition of the natural cycles on the Earth emphasizing the importance of understanding the chemistry involved, and our options to keep us and the Earth healthy.

5.0 out of 5 stars lots of enlightening knowledge, January 14, 2009

By 

G. Cates "darkspawn" (AR) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chemistry of the Environment (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

Well, this book is a boring read. However, if you need practical knowledge on environmental chemistry then this is a good book to start with. You need to have a decently strong chemistry background to be able to understand it.