Water ChemistryWater Chemistry

Introductory Chemistry Introductory Chemistry SeminarSeminar

Kevin TomaskoKevin Tomasko

What Exactly is Water?What Exactly is Water?

• Water is an unusual compound with Water is an unusual compound with unique physical characteristics.unique physical characteristics.

• Water is the compound of life.Water is the compound of life.• Water is the most abundant Water is the most abundant

compound in Earth’s biosphere.compound in Earth’s biosphere.• Water has a strong affinity for a large Water has a strong affinity for a large

variety of substances, thus pure variety of substances, thus pure water is incredibly rare.water is incredibly rare.

How does water apply to How does water apply to chemistry?chemistry?The chemistry of water deals with the The chemistry of water deals with the

fundamental physical properties of water, fundamental physical properties of water, which includes but is not limited to:which includes but is not limited to:

•Composition of waterComposition of water

•Structure and bonding of Structure and bonding of waterwater

•Symmetry of water Symmetry of water moleculesmolecules

•Structure of iceStructure of ice

•Autoionization of Autoionization of waterwater

•Reactivity of waterReactivity of water

•Electrolysis of waterElectrolysis of water

What does a water chemist What does a water chemist do?do?• Collect and analyze water samples.Collect and analyze water samples.• Designing new analytical techniques. Designing new analytical techniques. • Monitoring how water from a source changes with Monitoring how water from a source changes with

time.time.• Predicting the movement of polluted groundwater.Predicting the movement of polluted groundwater.• Using water trapped in minerals or in ice to Using water trapped in minerals or in ice to

determine past conditions.determine past conditions.

Water Chemists tend to work on interdisciplinary Water Chemists tend to work on interdisciplinary teams with other specialists, including teams with other specialists, including biologists, geologists, hydrologists, biologists, geologists, hydrologists, meteorologists, ecologists, and toxicologists.meteorologists, ecologists, and toxicologists.

Places of employment.Places of employment.

• Water, wastewater, and power Water, wastewater, and power utilities.utilities.

• Commercial Laboratories, consulting Commercial Laboratories, consulting firms.firms.

• Government agencies (EPA, U.S. Government agencies (EPA, U.S. Geological Survey)Geological Survey)

• Academic/ research institutionsAcademic/ research institutions

Personal Characteristics.Personal Characteristics.

• Water chemists often express a personal Water chemists often express a personal interest in and a commitment to the interest in and a commitment to the environment that goes beyond their environment that goes beyond their work.work.

• Enjoys doing work that safeguards water Enjoys doing work that safeguards water quality and solves complex problems.quality and solves complex problems.

• Practical people with good analytical Practical people with good analytical skills.skills.

Job OutlookJob Outlook• With a growing emphasis on the use of water With a growing emphasis on the use of water

chemistry to assess the overall health and chemistry to assess the overall health and history of water, career positions in water history of water, career positions in water chemistry will continue to be in demand, and chemistry will continue to be in demand, and will most likely increase in number.will most likely increase in number.

• An increasing number of jobs in industry are An increasing number of jobs in industry are opening up overseas in developing countries, opening up overseas in developing countries, i.e. Southeast Asiai.e. Southeast Asia

Average starting salary as of 2004:Average starting salary as of 2004:

•Bachelor’s Degree - $33,981Bachelor’s Degree - $33,981

•Master’s Degree - $44,769Master’s Degree - $44,769

•Doctorate Degree - $63,547Doctorate Degree - $63,547

Education requirements.Education requirements.

• Academic preparation includes a strong Academic preparation includes a strong background in the sciences, mathematics, and background in the sciences, mathematics, and statistics.statistics.

• Because the field is highly interdisciplinary, it is Because the field is highly interdisciplinary, it is important to be well versed in a variety of important to be well versed in a variety of disciplines, including microbiology, geology, disciplines, including microbiology, geology, aqueous geochemistry, geochemical kinetics, aqueous geochemistry, geochemical kinetics, hydrogeology, and microbial ecology.hydrogeology, and microbial ecology.

• As always, laboratory experience is vital.As always, laboratory experience is vital.

• Computer skills are necessary in the field.Computer skills are necessary in the field.

… … a brief funny story…a brief funny story…

Aliso Viejo, California:Aliso Viejo, California:

After visiting an official-looking prankster After visiting an official-looking prankster website describing dihydrogen monoxide as an website describing dihydrogen monoxide as an odorless, tasteless chemical that can be deadly if odorless, tasteless chemical that can be deadly if accidentally inhaled, city officials were scheduled accidentally inhaled, city officials were scheduled to vote on a proposed law to ban foam containers to vote on a proposed law to ban foam containers from city-sponsored events because this from city-sponsored events because this “dangerous chemical” is used in Styrofoam's “dangerous chemical” is used in Styrofoam's production. The measure was pulled from their production. The measure was pulled from their agenda after the embarrassing realization that agenda after the embarrassing realization that dihydrogen monoxide is none other than H2O. dihydrogen monoxide is none other than H2O.

Additional InformationAdditional Information

• Careers in Fresh Water ChemistryCareers in Fresh Water Chemistry - - http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5224/is_2003/ai_n19143http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5224/is_2003/ai_n19143313313

• ACS Water ChemistryACS Water Chemistry - - https://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/memberapp?https://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/memberapp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_ARTICLEMAIN&node_id=1188&co_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_ARTICLEMAIN&node_id=1188&content_id=CTP_003404&use_sec=true&sec_url_var=region1ntent_id=CTP_003404&use_sec=true&sec_url_var=region1

• University’s Council on Water Resourses University’s Council on Water Resourses - - http://www.ucowr.siu.edu/Careers/CareersInWater.htmlhttp://www.ucowr.siu.edu/Careers/CareersInWater.html

• Chemjobs Chemjobs - - http://pubs.acs.org/chemjobs/jobseeker/articles/job_water.htmlhttp://pubs.acs.org/chemjobs/jobseeker/articles/job_water.html

• ScienceJobs.com ScienceJobs.com - - http://www.sciencejobs.com/list/ViewJob-eur10158.htmlhttp://www.sciencejobs.com/list/ViewJob-eur10158.html