610-141 Chemistry

Credit cannot be gained for this subject and 610-121, 610-161 or 610-051.

VCE Chemistry.

Upon completion of 610-141 students should have an understanding of the place of chemistry in society and the physical environment; the nature of gases; basic energy concepts; the nature of chemical change; the nature of chemical equilibria; the structures of hydrocarbon and main group molecules; the important functional groups; and the nature of techniques of measurement, the evolution of current theories, the terminology used (nomenclature).

In the practical component students should develop basic laboratory skills (observation, analytical techniques, report writing); oral communication skills; independent learning skills; an appreciation of the health and safety issues associated with the safe handling and disposal of laboratory chemicals.

The subject provides an introduction to stoichiometry; gases; energy (enthalpy and thermochemistry); chemical kinetics; chemical equilibrium; acid-base chemistry; atomic spectra and atomic structure; structure and bonding of alkanes, alkenes and alkynes; benzene and its derivatives; functional groups; and spectroscopy and determination of structure.

A 3-hour written examination at the end of semester which represents 80% of the final assessment. Practical work is continuously assessed and short tests may be given during the semester. These together represent 20% of the final assessment. Practical work must be completed satisfactorily before credit can be granted for the subject.

• S Zumdahl, Chemical Principles. 4th Edition. Houghton Mifflin 2002.
• J McMurry, Organic Chemistry. 5th edn, Brooks/Cole, 2000.