Year 11 Chemistry is divided into 6 Areas of Study: three are studied in the first semester, the second three in the second semester. The table below lists these Areas of study and has a set of suggested homework questions,  course notes and revision tests relevant to that Area of study.

There is also an overall course timetable for the year to allow you to see at a glance what is coming up in terms of next topics, tests, assessment tasks and so on. Related to this document is the homework questions schedule which provides students with a suggested regimen of questions from the major text that will develop and enhance your understanding of the course material.

Introduction

  Chemistry is the study of substances: their composition, their effects on one another and our interactions with them. It is a dynamic science in that our understanding of both facts and theories is growing rapidly. Strong links between Chemistry and each of the other scientific disciplines have always been acknowledged, but there is now an increasing emphasis on links with social and economic factors.

 Chemical processes have led to new drugs, synthetic materials, biotechnology, microelectronics, new forms of food preservation, fuels, transportation and communication systems. Chemical processes are important in developing in improving human health, preventing environmental problems rehabilitating degraded environments.

UNIT ONE: The Big Ideas of Chemistry

The story of chemistry begins with the building of the Periodic Table from speculation, debate and experimental evidence. The Periodic Table provides a unifying framework for studying the chemistry of the elements using their chemical and physical properties to locate their position.The electron configuration of an element, its tendency to form a particular bond type and its ability to act as an oxidant or reductant can all be linked to its position in the Periodic Table.

This Unit examines a wide range of chemical reactions with emphasis on the writing of chemical equations and performance of calculations based on them. Students are introduced to the development and application of "smart" materials. Developing new materials has escalated with the use of synchrotron science that explores particle behaviour at an ever decreasing size. Some examples of new materials are alloys, fibres and compounds incorporating polymers, ceramics, biopolymers, films and coatings.

 Both areas of study in this Unit involve the design and performance of experiments, including the generation, collection and evaluation of experimental data.

 Areas of study

• The Periodic Table
• Materials

UNIT TWO: Environmental Chemistry

 Living things on earth have evolved to use water and the gases of the atmosphere in the chemical reactions that sustain them. Water is used by both plants and animals to to carry out their energy-producing reactions, dissolve their nutrients and transport their wastes. The atmosphere supplies life-giving gases, provides temperature that sustains life, and gives protection from harmful radiation. Appropriate chemical concepts are introduced and students are encouraged to evaluate the environmental impact of human activity on the biosphere. All areas of study in this Unit involve the design and performance of experiments, including the generation, collection and evaluation of experimental data.

 Areas of study

• Water
• The Atmosphere

ASSESSMENT: Units One and Two

The award of satisfactory completion for each Unit is based on a decision that the student has demonstrated achievement of the set of outcomes specified for the Unit. This decision will be based on the teacher’s assessment of the student’s overall performance on assessment tasks designated for the Unit. Such assessment tasks must include:

• an extended experimental investigation requiring between three and five hours practical work OR
• a summary report including annotations on three practical activites AND
• a response to stimulus material in written, oral, visual or multimedia format
• an analysis of first or second-hand data using structured questions (a test)
• a response to stimulus material related to green chemistry in written, oral, visual or multimedia format
• topic tests and a 90 minute end of Unit examination (internally assessed).

 Students will be graded from A⁺ to E and as S or N. The VCAA will only be notified as to whether or not the student has satisfactorily completed the Unit. All students must normally satisfactorily complete both Units 1 and 2 if they wish to proceed to Units 3 and 4 Chemistry.