610-121 Chemistry A (Advanced Studies Program)

Credit cannot be gained for this subject and 610-141, 610-051 or 610-161.

A high level of achievement in VCE Chemistry Units 3 and 4 or their equivalent.

Upon completion of 610-121, 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; intermolecular forces and the energetics and structures of solid state materials; the structure and bonding of main group elements and their important compounds; the structures of hydrocarbon and main group molecules; the important functional groups; spectroscopic identification of organic compounds; the nature of techniques of measurement; and the evolution of current theories.

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 importance of instrumental methods in chemistry; and an appreciation of the health and safety issues associated with the safe handling and disposal of laboratory chemicals.

The subject provides an introduction to gases, real and ideal; thermodynamics; energy, enthalpy, entropy; chemical equilibrium; homogeneous and heterogeneous equilibrium calculations; the structure and bonding of main group elements and their important compounds; reactions involving solubility; pH equilibria and acid-base chemistry; molecular structure and bonding in alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatics; organic nomenclature; stereochemistry; functional groups; and methods in spectroscopic identification of organic compounds.

Two 30-minute written class tests held during the semester (20%); ongoing assessment of practical work throughout the semester (20%); a 2-hour written examination in the examination period (60%). Satisfactory completion of practical work is necessary to pass the subject.

• S Zumdahl, Chemical Principles. 5th edn, Houghton Mifflin, 2005.
• J McMurry, Organic Chemistry. 6th edn, Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2004.