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.

 For the majority of students, learning is more effective in the context of the application of chemical knowledge to technology and society. Therefore, a thematic approach to Chemistry has been adopted, and throughout the study contexts have been provided for the teaching of Chemistry; for instance, the recycling of polyethenes, the structure and reactions of detergents and the special significance of water as a solvent. Students will have opportunities to investigate, explore and solve qualitative and quantitative problems and discuss chemical concepts and issues. Together the four Units of the study provide a comprehensive coverage of Chemistry at this level. In sequence, the Units foster the development of key knowledge and skills and develop and revisit key concepts in a variety of contexts.

The Year 11 Chemistry course encompasses Units 1 and 2: The Big Ideas of Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry. Success at Year 12 is based upon a thorough understanding of the Year 11 course material, with the topics Organic Chemistry, Stoichiometry, Acids and Bases and Redox Chemistry being particularly
important. The first part of the Year 12 course will be devoted to reviewing and revising some of these key concepts from Units 1 and 2. The major topics that will be investigated are:

UNIT THREE: Chemical Pathways

In this Unit students investigate the scope of techniques available to the analytical chemist. Chemical analysis is vital in the work of the forensic scientist, the quality control chemist at a food manufacturing plant, the geologist in the field, and the environmental chemist monitoring the health of a waterway.

Chemical Analysis looks at the various analytical techniques available to the chemist. The food we eat, the chemicals and fertilisers used to grow this food, the fuels we use for transport and energy and the wide range of medications that we use to prolong and enhance our lives all require thorough chemical analysis to ensure that they will perform their intended function and will not be harmful to either us or the environment. The techniques that we will investigate include gravimetric and volumetric analyses which can be performed in the school laboratory as well as more complex modern instrumental techniques involving spectroscopy and chromatography.

In Organic Chemical Pathways, we will investigate synthetic organic chemistry and some important aspects of biochemistry. Knowledge of the homologous series of the alkanes gained from Unit 1 studies will enable us to branch out into the different functional groups and their chemical properties. The reaction pathways by
which one organic molecule can be synthesised from another will be considered in detail. The structure and function of proteins and their use as disease markers is an important aspect of our study of biochemistry, as is the structure and bonding of DNA and its applications in forensic science.

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

• Chemical Analysis
• Organic Chemiscal Pathways

 UNIT FOUR: Chemistry at Work

In this Unit students invetigate the industrial production of chemicals and the energy changes associated with chemical reactions.

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

• Industrial Chemistry
• Supplying and Using Energy

 ASSESSMENT: Units Three and Four

  There are two outcomes which must be met for Unit 3 and two for Unit 4, with each outcome equally weighted in terms of assessment to ensure that they have been successfully met. School-assessed coursework in Unit 3 contributes 17% of the total study score and the mid-year examination in June contributes a
further 33%. This split is repeated in the second half of the year, with a final examination in November which assesses the coursework taught in Unit 4.

In Unit 3, the outcomes are to “evaluate the suitability of techniques and instruments used in chemical analysis” and to “identify and explain the role of functional groups in organic reactions and construct reaction pathways using organic molecules”.

School-assessed coursework will consist of three tasks across the unit: an extended experimental investigation worth 50% of the marks available,a written report on one practical activity from the other Area of study (25%) and another task such as the analysis of data using structured questions (25%). The extended experimental investigation will involve
• between three and five hours of practical work, conducted in pairs or small groups;
• preparation of a risk assessment and management sheet;
• each individual presenting his/her own report on the task in a format to be decided by your teacher.

In Unit 4, the outcomes are to “analyse the factors that determine the optimum conditions used in the industrial production of a selected chemical” and to “analyse chemical and energy transformations occurring in chemical reactions”. As in Unit 3, school-assessed coursework in Unit 4 contributes 17% of the total study
score and the final examination in November 33%. School-assessed coursework will consist of three tasks across the unit: a summary report including annotations of three related practical activities worth 50% of the marks available, a written report on one practical activity from the other Area of Study (25%) and another
task such as the analysis of data using structured questions (25%).

• Unit 3 Examination: a 90 minute paper in two parts, set by VCAA and sat at a date designated by them, in approximately the second week of June. The paper will consist of a Multiple Choice section worth one third of the available marks and extended answer questions the remaining two thirds. This paper will constitute 33% of the overall assessment in Chemistry.
• Unit 4 Examination: a 90 minute paper, also in two parts, also set by VCAA and sat at a date designated by them, in approximately the second week of November. The paper will be of similar format to the Unit 3 examination. This paper will constitute 33% of the overall assessment in Chemistry.

 An overall study score and a grade from A⁺ to E will be determined by VCAA on this basis as a moderated score against other students in the state. Students will also be assessed as having satisfactorily met the Outcomes of the subject (S or N).