School of Public Service and Health EDMG240 Chemistry of Hazardous Materials 3 Credit Hours 8 weeks Prerequisite(s): None Instructor Information Course Description Course Scope Course Objectives Course Delivery Method Course Materials Evaluation Procedures Grading Scale Course Outline Policies Academic Services Appendices Course Description This course covers the science associated with hazardous materials, to include those used in human terrorism and the most common hazardous materials in general use. This course is designed to provide the non-scientist student with the chemical bases for the classification of hazardous materials, nomenclature (naming), chemical structures as it relates to classification, chemical and physical properties, hazards, reactivity and incident response considerations. This course does not require any prior chemistry knowledge; however a strong background in chemistry or science is beneficial. Course Scope EDMG 240 gives emergency management personnel a depth of knowledge about the chemistry of hazardous materials. It is not to make chemists out of the students. The course covers a great amount of material on the chemistry and physical properties of common materials an emergency responder will commonly find in the course of responding to emergencies. It is important for emergency responders to have this knowledge because even though a chemical might say that it is relatively non-hazardous, if it reacts with another chemical, for instance even water; the chemical can now become extremely hazardous. Take for example the Pepcon explosion in Henderson, NV, in this event even the plant owners had the understanding that ammonium chlorate was only an oxidizers and could not detonate without a fuel source. This understanding was incorrect, as was evident by the explosion. Course Objectives Understand the classes of hazardous materials 1
Be able to identify major chemical groups and individual chemicals Explain the physical properties of hazardous materials. CO-4 Be able to interpret the information on a material safety data sheet Predict the reactivity of a chemical based on chemical class Be able to interpret the nomenclature of chemicals CO-7 Understand certain types of detection equipment CO-8 Understand the role of a Science Officer CO-9 Review definitions and terms relating to Hazardous Materials Course Delivery Method This course will offer the student a highly interactive, asynchronous virtual classroom. Each week s lesson will have a course announcement, assigned readings, a project, homework, or exam and other guidance provided by the instructor. The student is expected to fully participate in discussions and interact with the instructor and other students, reading assignments and assigned projects should be completed in a timely manner. Asynchronous is not the same as independent study all students are to participate in the weekly assignments and topics together. It is within a week where each individual has flexibility on completing a week s assigned tasks. NOTE: All assignments must be completed by the due dates for credit unless prior approval has been provided by the instructor. The nature of an online course requires a significant amount of discipline and independent work. Students are responsible for managing their time, completing their assignments, and notifying the Professor of any difficulties, immediately. All assignments will have several days to weeks to complete, extensions are therefore not anticipated. Each week begins on Monday and ends on Sunday. All posted times are Eastern Standard Time. Online assignments are due by the last day of each week. Students are encouraged to carefully check due dates so as not to miss a submission. Late assignments may have points deducted from the assignment grade. Note: If you are in a different time zone, please make sure that you plan ahead to fulfill course requirements. You may get locked out of tests and quizzes if late! Course Resources Book Number Developers Book Title Publication Info ISBN Chemistry of Hazardous Materials, 2 nd Edition Armando Bevelacqua Published by Delmar 1-4018-8089-4 Field Operations Guide Armando Bevelacqua Published by Delmar You will not be receiving a hard copy of the textbook. Evaluation Procedures Forum participation is mandatory and will count towards the course grade. You are expected to provide a substantial comment of several well-written paragraphs in each session and a similar comment or reflection in reply to at least two other students contribution. Statements such as I agree or good post will not count as a reply. You will be marked down for this type of response. 2
There are weekly assignments that will vary in format. These assignments are crafted to provide the student with challenging applications of information while testing the student s learning that week. Each assignment must be completed on time for full credit. Late assignments will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor. Weekly assignments should be uploaded in the assignment area, unless otherwise instructed. Be sure to cite your references correctly. Exams are on-line & open-book. Evaluation Criteria: The final grade will be calculated as follows: Grade Instruments: Points % of Final Grade Forums 20 pts each 30% Weekly Assignments 20 pts each 30% Course Project 150 pts 20% Exam I 100 pts 10% Final Exam 100 pts 10% 100% Grading Scale Please see the student handbook to reference the University's grading scale. Course Outline 8 Week Course Week Topic(s) Learning Objective(s) 3 Reading(s) 1 Elements and Terms Week 1 Chapter 1 2 3 4 5 Inorganic Chemistry: Nomenclature, Structures and Hazards Organic Chemistry: Nomenclature, Structures and Hazards Part I Organic Chemistry: Nomenclature, Structures and Hazards Part II and Mid-term Exam Organic Chemistry: Nomenclature, Structures and Hazards Part III Week 2 Chapter 2 Week 3 Chapter 3 Week 4 Chapter 4 Week 5 Chapter 5 Assignment(s) Week 1 Forum Discussion Week 1 Assignment - Worksheet 1 Week 2 Forum Discussion Week 2 Assignment Worksheet 2 Week 3 Forum Discussion Week 3 Assignment Week 4 Forum Discussion Week 4 Assignment Turn-in research paper Topic Week 5 Forum Discussion Week 5 Assignment Exam I 6 Hazmat Materials at the Week 6 Chapter 6 Week 6 Forum Discussion
Incident site Week 6 Assignment 7 8 Detection and Identification Research Paper and Final Exam Week 7 Chapter 7 Week 8 Varies according to topic/student Week 7 Forum Discussion Week 7 Assignment Week 8 Forum Discussion Research Paper Final Exam Policies Please refer directly to the Policy link under the Links tab within your classroom for current University policies. Academic Services Online Library Research Center & Learning Resources: The Online Library Resource Center is available to enrolled students and faculty from inside the electronic campus. This is your starting point for access to online books, subscription periodicals, and Web resources that are designed to support your classes and generally not available through search engines on the open Web. In addition, the Center provides access to special learning resources, which the University has contracted to assist with your studies. Questions can be directed to orc@apus.edu. Charles Town Library and Inter Library Loan: The University maintains a special library with a limited number of supporting volumes, collection of our professors publication, and services to search and borrow research books and articles from other libraries. Electronic Books: You can use the online library to uncover and download over 50,000 titles, which have been scanned and made available in electronic format. Electronic Journals: The University provides access to over 12,000 journals, which are available in electronic form and only through limited subscription services. Turnitin.com: Turnitin.com is a tool to improve student research skills that also detect plagiarism. Turnitin.com provides resources on developing topics and assignments that encourage and guide students in producing papers that are intellectually honest, original in thought, and clear in expression. This tool helps ensure a culture of adherence to the University's standards for intellectual honesty. Turnitin.com also reviews students' papers for matches with Internet materials and with thousands of student papers in its database, and returns an Originality Report to instructors and/or students. www.tutor.com: Students have access to tutoring services through www.tutor.com. Tutoring is available in the following subjects: math (basic math through advanced calculus), science (biology, chemistry, and physics), accounting, statistics, economics, Spanish, writing, grammar, and more. Additional information is available from the Online Library. Weekly Student Course Guide Week 1 Elements and Terms 4
Scope: In this lesson, you are introduced to chemistry specifically the elements, atomic structure, common trends in the periodic table, general characteristics of the elements, as well as some chemical and physical aspects of chemical compounds. Also you are introduced to terms and definitions used in types of exposure. This lesson is meant for a review of chemistry from the perspective of a first responder. Objectives: CO-9 Understand the classes of hazardous materials (Elements) Be able to identify major chemical groups and individual chemicals (Elements) Predict the reactivity of a chemical based on chemical class (Elements) Review definitions and terms relating to Hazardous Materials 1. Chapter 1: Chemical Structure and Physical Effects. 1. Week 1 : Forum Introduction - Introduce yourself in the forum. Pick one of three - Pick one of the topics listed in the forum and write 350 words on the topic. Respond to at least one of your colleagues. 2. Week 1: Assignment Worksheet 1 Week 2 Inorganic Chemistry: Nomenclature, Structures and Hazards Scope: In this lesson, you will learn Inorganic chemistry as discussed from the naming point of view, identifying the hazards in each inorganic chemical class. Such topics as ph and radiation are also discussed. This lesson is directed to mitigation techniques and the hazards that can intrude on the remediation of the event. Understand the classes of hazardous materials (Inorganic Chemicals) Be able to identify major chemical groups and individual chemicals (Inorganic Chemicals) Explain the physical properties of hazardous materials (Inorganic Chemicals) Predict the reactivity of a chemical based on chemical class (Inorganic Chemicals) Be able to interpret the nomenclature of chemicals (Inorganic Chemicals) 1. Chapter 2: Inorganic Compounds 1. Week 2:Forum Hazardous Material Names. Write a paragraph on why it is important from a hazmat perspective to know the names of hazardous materials. Respond to at least one of your colleagues. 2. Week 2: Worksheet 2 5
Week 3 Organic Chemistry: Nomenclature, Structures and Hazards (Part I) Scope: In this lesson, you will learn to indentify the behavior and nomenclature of organic chemicals, specifically hydrocarbons. Organic chemicals are the most frequently encountered chemicals and represent the largest category of transported commodity. The material in this chapter facilitates categorizing into organic families and covers the hazards each can represent. Understand the classes of hazardous materials (Organic Chemicals) Be able to identify major chemical groups and individual chemicals (Organic Chemicals) Explain the physical properties of hazardous materials (Organic Chemicals) Predict the reactivity of a chemical based on chemical class (Organic Chemicals) Be able to interpret the nomenclature of chemicals (Organic Chemicals) 1. Chapter 3: Organic Compounds I: Organic Structure 1. Week 3: Forum Polar vs Non-Polar Chemicals. Write a paragraph on why it is important to know whether a chemical is polar or non-polar from a Hazmat perspective. Respond to at least one of your colleagues. Long Chain Organic Molecules. Write a paragraph as to why longer chain organic molecules have a higher flashpoint and a higher boiling point. Respond to at least one of your colleagues. 2. Week 3: Assignment Chemical Class and Structure I Week 4 Organic Chemistry: Nomenclature, Structures and Hazards (Part II) Scope: In this lesson, you will learn to indentify the behavior and nomenclature of organic chemicals, specifically halohydrocarbons, amines, nitrogen groups, ether and epoxides, organic peroxides. Organic chemicals are the most frequently encountered chemicals and represent the largest category of transported commodity. The material in this chapter facilitates categorizing into organic families and covers the hazards each can represent. Understand the classes of hazardous materials (Organic Chemicals) Be able to identify major chemical groups and individual chemicals (Organic Chemicals) Explain the physical properties of hazardous materials (Organic Chemicals) Predict the reactivity of a chemical based on chemical class (Organic Chemicals) Be able to interpret the nomenclature of chemicals (Organic Chemicals) 1. Chapter 4: Organic Compounds II: NonPolar Compounds 1. Week 4: Forum 6
ph. Please discuss why you agree or disagree with wetting the ph paper before using it. Respond to at least one of your colleagues. 2. Week 4: Assignment: Chemical Class and Structure II 3. Research Paper: Turn in Topic. Week 5 Organic Chemistry: Nomenclature, Structures and Hazards (Part III) Scope: In this lesson, you will learn to indentify the behavior and nomenclature of organic chemicals, specifically alcohols, sulfur compounds, carbonyl groups, phosphorous compounds. Organic chemicals are the most frequently encountered chemicals and represent the largest category of transported commodity. The material in this chapter facilitates categorizing into organic families and covers the hazards each can represent. A section on chemical warfare agents (CWAs) is also introduced, explaining the chemistry and toxicological aspects of these compounds. Understand the classes of hazardous materials (Organic Chemicals) Be able to identify major chemical groups and individual chemicals (Organic Chemicals) Explain the physical properties of hazardous materials (Organic Chemicals) Predict the reactivity of a chemical based on chemical class (Organic Chemicals) Be able to interpret the nomenclature of chemicals (Organic Chemicals) 1. Chapter 5: Organic Compounds III: Polar Compounds 1. Week 5: Forum Special Hazards of Organic Chemicals. Pick a synthetic material like nylon or PVC or one of the hundreds of other ones and discuss what the possible toxic chemicals it would produce in a fire. Respond to at least one of your colleagues. 2. Week 5: Assignment Chemical Class and Structure III. 3. Midterm Exam: Complete the Exam I. Week 6 Hazmat Materials at the Incident site Scope: In this lesson, you will use reference material and resources. Measurement and conversions are covered to enable the reader to move between different unit of measurement and learn about the application theory as presented in the textbook. The textbook also discusses environmental considerations, PPE, decontamination, and weaponized agents used in at an incident. Resources include textbooks, databases, websites that can be used to enhance the science officer s capability at the scene of a hazardous material incident. CO-4 CO-8 Explain the physical properties of hazardous materials Be able to interpret the information on a material safety data sheet Predict the reactivity of a chemical based on chemical class Understand the role of a Science Officer 7
1. Chapter 6: Science Officer s Reference Guide 2. Hazardous Material Reference Guide 1. Week 6: Forum Transportation Accidents. Discuss why it will be hard to prevent all transportation accidents. Respond to at least one of your colleagues. 2. Week 6: Assignment Tanker Truck Week 7 Detection and Identification Equipment Scope: In this lesson, you will learn the science behind infrared technology. The spectra that are found in this book are real spectra that were generated by Smith Detection s Hazmat ID. Real interpretations are included for these spectra, such that the student can look at real examples for comparison. This chapter goes into street chemistry along with the details of technology and how to interpret infrared spectra. CO-4 CO-7 Understand the classes of hazardous materials Be able to identify major chemical groups and individual chemicals Explain the physical properties of hazardous materials. Be able to interpret the information on a material safety data sheet Predict the reactivity of a chemical based on chemical class Be able to interpret the nomenclature of chemicals Understand certain types of detection equipment 1. Chapter 7: The Art of Infrared Spectroscopy 1. Week 7: Forum Household Chemical Hazards. Discuss what chemicals you have in your house and their potential hazards. Respond to at least one of your colleagues. 2. Week 7: Assignment Two Detectors per Chemical Week 8 Course Wrap Up, Research Paper and Final Exam Scope: This week students will discuss the challenges and impact of the course and provide suggestions for improving the course. 8
1. Demonstrate your knowledge by submitting a 10-12 page research paper. 2. Assess your knowledge of the Week 1 through 8 learning objectives by taking an online Final Exam. 1. Review all assigned chapters for the Final Exam. 1. Weekly: Forum Final Discussion. Discuss how you think this class will benefit you as a first responder. There is no need to respond to one of your colleagues. 2. Research Paper: Turn in Research Paper. 3. Final Exam: Complete the Final Exam. Research Paper: By the end of Week 4 you will need to decide on your topic for your research paper. The paper will focus on an actual accident involving a hazardous material or chemical(s), chemical plant, or explosion in a manufacturing plant. The research paper will require students to submit 10-12 double-spaced, typed pages complete with title page and reference page. APA format will be used. It is important that you use good research paper construction techniques and cite your references throughout your paper. 9