Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Water* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) 0600-OG-WoW

The course is addressed to students who want to broaden their knowledge of issues related to understanding the role of water in the surrounding world. The authors of the lecture will answer, among others, the following questions and will discuss the following issues:
1. Water in the universe. When were the elements that compose it - hydrogen and oxygen, formed? Where did the water on Earth come from? Why was life on Earthborn in water? Does life require water? How much water is there in the universe? Search methods.
2. Water construction. Aerobes. Water as one of the four classical elements, next to fire, Earth and air. What factors determine the unique properties of water? If not water, then what? Water in chemistry. The use of water in chemistry, solvent, reagent. Types of water in chemical compounds. How much water is in the water, and how much is in the ice. Heavy water.
3. Properties of water. Water and over 70 anomalies. Phase transitions of water. Steam. Liquid water. Ice.
4. Is the water unlucky or the pH? What is the negative logarithm of the concentration of hydronium ions? Self-ionization of water. Why is the pH of the water so important? The solubility of substances (gases, liquids, solids) in water.
5. The water cycle on Earth. Snow. Clouds. Fog. Mirage - an optical illusion related to water. Hydrogen bond. Hydrophobic. Hydrophilicity. Can you walk on water? Biocompatibility. Humidity.
6. Obtaining fresh drinking water, water management, water shortages in the world. Water management in Poland. Water law permits. Can everyone have their own well? Rainwater. Why is saltwater bad and distilled water tasteless?
7. Water treatment. Wastewater treatment. What flows in the tap. Deep wells in large cities. Domestic and industrial methods of water treatment. What are carbon filters? What are filters sold in stores, and what are they supposed to be used for? Drinking water. Drinking water. Mineral water. Bottled water. What is it, and how is it different from tap water? What water is the best, maybe distilled, demineralized water?
8. Household water. Water for washing, cooking, washing, washing dishes. Water hardness. Water softening. How much water is used by statistical households in different parts of the world? What is the minimum daily human need for water? How much can a person survive without water? Desertification of Poland.
9. Water in industry. Production of paper and clothes. Water cutting. Cooling. Water as a solvent. What industries are the most water-intensive? Food processing and production - what is virtual water. Converters of water consumption to unit products. Water in agriculture.
10. Water and batteries. Electrochemical cells, batteries, accumulators - the role of water in generating energy due to chemical reactions. Hydrogen as a fuel. Water as an ecologically ideal by-product of hydrogen cells. Can water be a fuel?
11. Water in religion and culture. Baptism, holy water. Ablutions in other faiths. Turning water into wine. Water as the epitome of purity, clean as a whistle.
12. Water in medicine. Water as the primary medicine. Aquaphobia - fear of water. Desire. Oral rehydration therapy. Why do we sweat, and what is sweat. Tears. Why is there so much water in us?
13. Water in drinks. In every culture, there is an identity drink, more or less formal. The division into alcoholic and non-alcoholic, e.g. tea, coca-cola, coffee, whiskey, tequila, wine, vodka, beer, kvass, punch, etc. Each of these drinks contains water - the ingredients of each of these drinks.
14. Water in recreation. Pools, beaches, water parks, water sports, diving, swimming, hockey, skating, water skiing, snow skiing. Fishkeeping.
15. Truths and myths about water. Water - a great mystery (directed by Anastasia Popowa, 2006). The memory of water. Homeopathy Structured water. Alkaline water. Fiji water. Dead water. Living water. Plasma water.
16. Water terms, water dictionary: dihydrogen monoxide, dihydrogen oxide, distilled water, demineralized water, redistilled water, toilet water, hydrogen peroxide, knee water and sugar cubes, regal water, lime water, ammonia water, soda water. Water in proverbs and sayings.
The lecture will be illustrated with numerous presentations.

Total student workload

Hours realized with the participation of teachers (hours): e.g. - participation in lectures - 30 - consultations with an academic teacher - 10 Time devoted to individual student work (hours): e.g. - preparation for the lecture - 5 - reading literature - 15 - exam preparation - 15 Total: 75 hours (3 ECTS)

Learning outcomes - knowledge

W1: Knows the essential areas of chemistry and solid-state physics. K_W02 W2: Knows and understands the interdependence between the various components of nature, the circulation of matter (water) and the role and influence of water on the surrounding world. K_W02 W3: He knows the basics of general chemistry (understands concepts and laws), terminology and chemical nomenclature. K_W02 W4: Describes the various types of materials, their properties and applications. K_W02 W5: Characterizes the properties of the compound after its structure; can use the concepts of solubility, hydrophobicity and biocompatibility, can describe the unique properties of water, can indicate clean technologies for obtaining energy based on water and the possibilities of their improvement. K_W02

Learning outcomes - skills

U1: It consolidates the basics of chemical knowledge acquired in high school, basic definitions, and chemical nomenclature. Uses the acquired knowledge to critically analyze the impact of water properties on the surrounding world. K_U01 U2: Critically analyzes the acquired knowledge, is able to assess the effects of human interference in the environment critically and proposes appropriate solutions to prevent or eliminate adverse effects. K_U01 U3: Can independently prepare a presentation on materials' structure and physicochemical properties (including water). K_U01

Learning outcomes - social competencies

K1: Works independently and efficiently with large amounts of information. K_K01 K2: Thoughts creatively to improve the existing or create new solutions. K_K01 K3: Knows the limitations of his knowledge and skills. K_K01 K4: Establishes cooperation in a group. K_K02

Teaching methods

- informative lecture (conventional) - problem lecture - discussion

Expository teaching methods

- discussion
- informative (conventional) lecture
- problem-based lecture

Prerequisites

"absence"

Course coordinators

Piotr Gauden
Grzegorz Trykowski

Assessment criteria

Assessment methods:
- written exam - W1, W2, W3, W4, W5
Assessment criteria:
Assessment based on a written test conducted on the Modle platform. Written test exam consisting of multiple-choice questions from up to 5 options. Incorrectly indicating the answer is equivalent to 0 points for the question. Correct answer - 1 point - at least 20 questions in the test.
Passing the exam after reaching at least 50% of the points possible, e.g. 10 points for 20 questions. Very good grade after obtaining more than 80% of the points. The remaining grades proportionally ranged from 50-80% of points.

Practical placement

not applicable

Bibliography

1. P. Atkins, L. Jones, Chemia ogólna. Cząsteczki, materia, reakcje, PWN, Warszawa, 2004.
2. P. Hewitt, Fizyka wokół nas, PWN, Warszawa, 2015.
3. J. Minczewski, Z. Marczenko, Chemia analityczna, T.2, Chemiczne metody analizy ilościowej, PWN, Warszawa, 2018.
4. A.L. Kowal, M. Świderska-Bróż, Oczyszczanie wody, PWN, Warszawa-Wrocław, 2009.
5. J. Nawrocki, S. Biłozor, Uzdatnianie wody, procesy chemiczne i biologiczne, PWN, Warszawa-Poznań, 2010.
6. http://www1.lsbu.ac.uk/water/
7. M. Overman, Woda, PWN, Warszawa, 1977.
8. Ł. Lamża, Wszechświat: krok po kroku, Wydawnictwo: Copernicus Center Press, 2017.
9. J. Turło, red. Prawie wszystko o wodzie, Top Kurier, Toruń, 1997.

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 0600-OG-WoW in USOSweb