610-141 Chemistry A

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 equilibria; the structure and bonding of inorganic molecules; the nature of the solid state; the structures of hydrocarbon and main group molecules; the important functional groups; 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; 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 stoichiometry; gases; energy (enthalpy and thermochemistry); chemical equilibrium; acid-base chemistry; aspects of main group chemistry: structure and bonding in elements and compounds of groups 14-18; solutions and pH equilibria; intermolecular forces and extended solid state structures; structure and bonding of alkanes, alkenes and alkynes; benzene and its derivatives; functional groups; and spectroscopy and determination of structure.

A 30-minute written class test held mid-semester (5%); ongoing assessment of practical work throughout the semester (20%); a 3-hour written examination in the examination period (75%). 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.