GSC 2205 - Chemistry of Consumer Products

Credits: 4
Every day we use or dispose of dozens of commercially made products. Have you ever wondered how they were made or what happens when you dispose of those items? This course will explore the life of consumer products from cradle to grave and everywhere in between. We will explore the chemistry behind these products and how that affects our world, but don’t worry a chemistry background is not required. We will discuss manufacturing through history and look at specific case studies of the impacts that products have on the environment at different points in their life cycle. Students will use concepts from chemistry and environmental science to reflect on their own choices and those of our society. Throughout the course we will be reading scientific and non-scientific literature to understand multiple sides of these issues. Some topics to be covered are plastic pollution, oil and gas pipelines, lead and other contamination, and nuclear energy and its costs and benefits.

 
McDaniel Plan: Scientific Inquiry