2022/5/18 15:12 E2: Environmental Forensics: CHEM1X11 Chemistry 1A - Lab Programme
https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/pages/e2-environmental-forensics#Letter 1/12
E2: Environmental Forensics
On this page:
Introduction (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/pages/e2-
environmental-forensics#intro)
Safety Information (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/pages/e2-
environmental-forensics#safety)
Labtorial Resources (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/pages/e2-environmental-
forensics#labtorial)
Lab Manual (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/pages/e2-
environmental-forensics#manual)
"Dry Lab" Results (Remote students only)
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/pages/e2-environmental-
forensics#results)
Safety Material Datasheets for Unknown Salts
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/pages/e2-environmental-
forensics#sds)
Assessments (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/pages/e2-
environmental-forensics#assessments)
Introduction
Analytical chemistry forms an important part of environmental science. The
growth of plants depends to a large extent on the salts present in the soil.
Some of these salts can determine the soil pH and hence the chemical state of
nutrients within the soil. An analysis of the ions present in soil thus forms an
important part of its chemical characterisation.
2022/5/18 15:12 E2: Environmental Forensics: CHEM1X11 Chemistry 1A - Lab Programme
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But plants are not the only form of life affected by the ions present within their
environment. The health of animals, including humans, is also very dependent
on the ions to which they are exposed. There are, for example, many metal
ions which are essential to our existence (e.g. Na , K , Ca , Mg , Fe , Fe ,
Cu and Zn ) because of crucial roles they play in our metabolism or other
physiological processes, such as respiration, muscle contraction, nerve
impulse propagation, etc.
+ + 2+ 2+ 2+ 3+
2+ 2+
2022/5/18 15:12 E2: Environmental Forensics: CHEM1X11 Chemistry 1A - Lab Programme
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Figure 2: Graphical representation of elements found in humans.
Due to the importance of these metallic salts, it is important to be able to
identify the metal ions in any given salt, especially as they may be toxic to both
plant and animal life in large quantities. If a given researcher or employee has
access to a university or research institution, this can be performed using a
range of modern equipment such as a Flame-AAS or ICP-MS. However, such
equipment is expensive and even sending a sample to be analysed can cost
hundreds of dollars! To counteract this, field researchers often utilise
inexpensive testing kits containing a range of cheap solutions that can be used
to qualitatively provide a first ‘guess’ as to the identity or presence of certain
metal ions.
In this experiment you will imagine that you are working for the NSW
Environmental Protection Agency and are currently on site near a large
chemical production facility. You will test the identity of two waste salts being
dumped nearby and provide a brief statement back to your employer about the
identity of these salts and the simple chemical tests you used to justify your
claims.
Safety Information
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Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
Identify the Hazard Determine the
Risk
Control the Risk Disposal of
waste
Unknown Sample Medium risk. Treat as hazardous. Heavy metal
waste container.
Bunsen burner
Hazard – Start a fire.
Causes burns
Setup in an isolated
fumehood with no
fuel sources.
N/A
Nitric Acid (4 M)
Hazardous –
Corrosive and irritant.
Avoid eye or skin
contact and
inhalation.
Flush down the
sink with copious
amounts of water.

Hydrochloric Acid (4
M) Hazardous –
Corrosive and irritant.
Hydrochloric Acid
(1 M)
Hazardous - Corrosive
and irritant.
Sodium hydroxide (1
M)
Hazardous –
Corrosive and irritant.
2,2'-Bipyridine (0.1
M)
Hazardous – Toxic.
Handle with care.
Low risk.

Avoid eye or skin
contact and
inhalation.
Non-halogenated
organic waste
container.
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Potassium
Thiocyanate (0.1 M)
Hazardous – Irritant.
Flush down the
sink with copious
amounts of water.
Silver Nitrate (0.1 M)
Hazardous – Irritant.
Heavy metal
waste container.
Barium Chloride (0.1
M)
Hazardous – Irritant.
Labtorial Resources
Worksheets
The following worksheets cover theory, concepts and calculations covered
experiment 1. You should watch the short video available to watch at the top of
each worksheet which will explain the theory and content covered in the
worksheet. The worksheets will unlock at 12:01 am Monday the week of your
labtorial and you then have 2 weeks to complete them. You have an unlimited
number of attempts within this 2 week period with your highest score be
counted. You must attempt and submit all 5 worksheets BEFORE your lab
class next week to be allowed to participate.
Labtorial Worksheet 2a - Chemical equations
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/quizzes/182951)
Labtorial Worksheet 2b - Calculating moles
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/quizzes/182944)
Labtorial Worksheet 2c - Units and prefixes
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/quizzes/182959)
Labtorial Worksheet 2d - The experiment
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/quizzes/182956)
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Practical Exercises (On-Campus only)
The following exercises are not assessed and aim to give you practical
experience of the various laboratory techniques you will be using in next
week's experiment. It is an opportunity to learn and master the correct
technique without the pressure of affecting your lab experiment. These
practical labtorials will only run for 90 min with students being staggered over
the timetabled 3 hour lab session. Please check your personalised lab
schedule to see what time you should attend your practical labtorial lab class.
Note these exercises are only for on-campus students only.
Understanding the chemical tests
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/files/22568570?wrap=1)
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/files/22568570/download?download_frd=1)
Lab Manual/Experiment Details
On-Campus Lab Manual (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/files/22570981?
wrap=1) (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/files/22570981/download?
download_frd=1)
Remote Lab Manual (coming soon)
"Dry Lab" Results (Remote students only)
Note that some variation from the on-campus lab manual may be observed.
Where present, follow the instructions provided in the following pages and
videos.
Part One - Colour tests (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/pages/e2-
environmental-forensics-part-1-of-4)
Part Two - Anion tests (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/pages/e2-
environmental-forensics-part-2-of-4)
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Part Three - Cation tests
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/pages/e2-environmental-forensics-
part-3-of-4)
Part Four - Hazard evaluation (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/pages/e2-
environmental-forensics-part-4-of-4)
Safety Material Datasheets for Unknown
Salts
Click on the salt to view its safety material datasheet
Cations Ag salts
Anions
Cl-
salts
AgCl (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/files/22045497?
wrap=1)
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/files/22045497/download?
download_frd=1)
BaCl
(https:/
Br-
salts
AgBr (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/files/22045342?
wrap=1)
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/files/22045342/download?
download_frd=1)
BaBr
(https:/
SO
salts
Ag SO (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/files/22045338?
wrap=1)
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/files/22045338/download?
download_frd=1)
BaSO
(https:/
CO
salts
Ag CO (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/files/22045505?
wrap=1)
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/files/22045505/download?
download_frd=1)
BaCO
(https:/
Assessments
+
42- 2 4
32- 2 3
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Labtorial Worksheet (1%) (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/pages/e2-
environmental-forensics#labtorial)
The labtorial worksheet covers theory, techniques, safety hazards and practice
calculations you will utilise in the subsequent experiment. For this reason,
the labtorial worksheet MUST be completed BEFORE you attend lab for this
experiment (or attempt your dry lab online for remote students). Note that
there is an unlimited number of attempts (until it closes) and full marks are not
required for lab access (just a submission attempt). The closing date is 11:59
pm Sunday after the experiment lab class so you still have time to discuss the
questions/content with your demonstrator and improve your mark if you are yet
to score full marks.
Logbook (1%) (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/assignments/359922)
During the experiments, you are required to take notes of measurements and
observations. You will also be prompted by questions in the lab manual/dry lab
pages/demo slides. Submit your logbook
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/assignments/359922) to CANVAS
by the 11:59 pm Monday next week. This should either be a scan/photograph
copy of your hand-written logbook or a typed-up log book submission.
Marking Rubric
This logbook contributes 1% of your Unit of Study. The breakdown of marks
are as follows:
Criteria Ratings Pts
Formatting 1 pts
Full Marks
Experiment title and date
present. Sections clearly
defined. Minor issues are
allowed.
0.5 pts
Good
1-2 significant issues
identified. Eg No title,
sections not clearly defined,
illegible handwriting.
0 pts
No
Marks
>2
issues
1 pts
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Criteria Ratings Pts
Observations/notes
Includes all
observations involving
colours and phase
changes (bubbling,
precipitation).
Where positive tests are
confirmed, the reaction
scheme is provided to
explain the outcome.
3 pts
Full Marks
A good and
accurate
account of
observations
recorded.
Reaction
schemes
drawn for
positive tests.
2 pts
Great
A good account
of observations
recorded. A few
crucial
observations
were missing, or
the reaction
schemes may be
missing.
1 pts
Good
Brief or
general
observations.
No reaction
schemes to
explain
observations.
0 pts
No Marks
Poor or no
account of
observations
recorded.
3 pts
Unknown Sample 1
Identification
Correctly identifies the
cation and anion of the
first unknown salt and
provides the correct
molecular formula.
Hazards are correctly
identified.
3 pts
Full
Marks
Correctly
identified
the
cation
and
anion
AND
provided
the
correct
chemical
formula.
2 pts
Great
1 item (cation,
anion, or chemical
formula) was
incorrect. Note: that
if the cation or
anion is incorrect,
but the chemical
formula is correct
for the salt
proposed, a mark is
still scored for
chemical formula.
1 pts
Good
2 items (cation,
anion, or chemical
formula is incorrect)
Note: that if the
cation and/or anion
is incorrect, but the
chemical formula is
correct for the salt
proposed, a mark is
still scored for
chemical formula.
0 pts
No
Marks
>4 results
do not
match
expected
outcomes
or are
missing.
3 pts
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Criteria Ratings Pts
Unknown Sample 2
Identification
Correctly identifies the
cation and anion of the
first unknown salt and
provides the correct
molecular formula.
Hazards are correctly
identified.
3 pts
Full
Marks
Correctly
identified
the
cation
and
anion
AND
provided
the
correct
chemical
formula.
2 pts
Great
1 item (cation,
anion, or chemical
formula) was
incorrect. Note: that
if the cation or
anion is incorrect,
but the chemical
formula is correct
for the salt
proposed, a mark is
still scored for
chemical formula.
1 pts
Good
2 items (cation,
anion, or chemical
formula is incorrect)
Note: that if the
cation and/or anion
is incorrect, but the
chemical formula is
correct for the salt
proposed, a mark is
still scored for
chemical formula.
0 pts
No
Marks
>4 results
do not
match
expected
outcomes
or are
missing.
3 pts
Total Points: 10
Major Post-lab Assessment Option 2 (of 4)
($CANVAS_OBJECT_REFERENCE$/assignments/gc2e951da3e05348e697350ad0325dc42) :
Letter to the EPA (10%)
Indicate this assessment as your preference here.
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/quizzes/179532)
Expected length: ~1 page
Having identified the samples and hazards associated with them, write a letter
to the NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about your findings. Be
sure to include how you identified the salts. You should include the negative
results (but you do not need to describe them in detail - just what the outcome
of the negative result means). You should also avoid mentioning unnecessary
details needed for the communication (eg concentrations and glassware used)
and not use reaction schemes (this would be an inappropriate "language" for
this form of communication - everything should be described with words).
Highlight any errors or uncertainty in your tests/observations and comment on
2022/5/18 15:12 E2: Environmental Forensics: CHEM1X11 Chemistry 1A - Lab Programme
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the severity/urgency of cleaning up the spill based on the hazards you have
identified.
Marking Rubric
This post-lab assessment contributes 10% of your Unit of Study and is due
11:59 pm Sunday 15th May (End of week 11). The breakdown of marks are as
follows:
Criteria
Formatting
Presented in appropriate professional letter format
Correct identification
Correctly identified the two samples of unknown salts.
Target audience
Language used was appropriate for the target audience. It gave sufficient technical in
Language
The account of the investigation was adequately provided in words for each sample. R
used.
Referencing data
All data/conclusions drawn, and recommendations made, are consistent with the data
Irrelevant information (eg concentrations or glassware) is omitted.
Note that negative results are still useful data through the "process of elimination" and
summarised.
Hazard Identification
The correct hazard(s) were drawn from the SDS and communicated.
Recommendation
Reasonable recommendation based on the hazard(s) identified.
Length
Only relevant information was communicated in a concise manner.
Resources
How to format a professional letter (https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/business-
communication/how-to-write-a-formal-business-letter/1/)
Example letter to the EPA
(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/files/22045448?wrap=1)
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(https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/41313/files/22045448/download?download_frd=1)