Overview

The development and use of materials for specific purposes is an important human endeavour. In this unit you will investigate the chemical structures and properties of a range of materials, including covalent compounds, metals, ionic compounds and polymers. They are introduced to ways that chemical quantities are measured. They consider how manufacturing innovations lead to more sustainable products being produced for society through the use of renewable raw materials and a transition from a linear economy towards a circular economy.

You will conduct practical investigations involving the reactivity series of metals, separation of mixtures by chromatography, use of precipitation reactions to identify ionic compounds, determination of empirical formulas, and synthesis of polymers.

Throughout this unit you will use chemistry terminology including symbols, formulas, chemical nomenclature and equations to represent and explain observations and data from their own investigations and to evaluate the chemistry-based claims of others.

A student-directed research investigation into the sustainable production or use of a selected material is to be undertaken in Area of Study 3. The investigation explores how sustainability factors such as green chemistry principles and the transition to a circular economy are considered in the production of materials to ensure minimum toxicity and impacts on human health and the environment. The investigation draws on key knowledge and key science skills from Area of Study 1 and/or Area of Study 2.

Download > VCE Chemistry Study Design

Prerequisites

It is expected that students undertaking Units 1 & 2 Chemistry will have studied either Chemistry or Environmental Science at Year 10. Competency in Chemistry topics at the Year 10 level is presumed for Units 1 & 2.

Areas of Study

• How do the chemical structures of materials explain their properties and reactions?
• How are materials quantified and classified?
• How can chemical principles be applied to create a more sustainable future?

In the first area of study, you will focus on elements as the building blocks of useful materials. You will investigate the structures, properties and reactions of carbon compounds, metals and ionic compounds, and use chromatography to separate the components of mixtures. You will use metal recycling as a context to explore the transition in manufacturing processes from a linear economy to a circular economy.

In the second area of study you will focus on the measurement of quantities in chemistry and the structures and properties of organic compounds, including polymers. 

In the third area of study you will undertake an investigation involving the selection and evaluation of a recent discovery, innovation, advance, case study, issue or challenge linked to the knowledge and skills developed in Unit 1 Area of Study 1 and/or Area of Study 2, including consideration of sustainability concepts (green chemistry principles, sustainable development and the transition towards a circular economy).

Assessment

Assessment for Outcomes 1 and 2 may include: annotations of a practical work folio; a report of a practical activity; media response; problem-solving; data analysis; or a test.

Outcome 3 will be assessed by a response to a question involving the production or use of a selected material, including reference to sustainability.

Pathways

Chemistry Unit 1 and 2 are completed in Year 11. It is expected that students studying Unit 3 and 4 Chemistry have previously achieved a competent standard in both Unit 1 and Unit 2 Chemistry. Acceleration is not available in this subject.

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Overview

Society is dependent on the work of chemists to analyse the materials and products in everyday use. In this unit you will analyse and compare different substances dissolved in water and the gases that may be produced in chemical reactions. You will explore applications of acid-base and redox reactions in society.

You will conduct practical investigations involving the specific heat capacity of water, acid-base and redox reactions, solubility, molar volume of a gas, volumetric analysis, and the use of a calibration curve.

Throughout the unit you will use chemistry terminology, including symbols, formulas, chemical nomenclature and equations, to represent and explain observations and data from their own investigations and to evaluate the chemistry-based claims of others. 

A student-adapted or student-designed scientific investigation is undertaken in Area of Study 3. The investigation involves the generation of primary data and is related to the production of gases, acid-base or redox reactions, or the analysis of substances in water. It draws on the key science skills and key knowledge from Unit 2 Area of Study 1 and/or Area of Study 2.

Download > VCE Chemistry Study Design

Prerequisites

It is expected that students undertaking Units 1 & 2 Chemistry will have studied either Chemistry or Environmental Science at Year 10. Competency in Chemistry topics at the Year 10 level is presumed for Units 1 & 2.

Areas of Study

• How do chemicals interact with water?
• How are chemicals measured and analysed?
• How do quantitative scientific investigations develop our understanding of chemical reactions?

In the first area of study you will focus on understanding the properties of water and investigating acid-base and redox reactions. You explore water’s properties, including its density, specific heat capacity and latent heat of vaporisation. You write equations for acid-base and redox reactions, and apply concepts including pH as a measure of acidity. They explore applications of acid-base reactions and redox reactions in society.

In the second area of study you will focus on the analysis and quantification of chemical reactions involving acids, bases, salts and gases. You will measure the solubility of substances in water, explore the relationship between solubility and temperature using solubility curves, and learn to predict when a solute will dissolve or crystallise out of solution. You will quantify amounts in chemistry using volumetric analysis, application of the ideal gas equation, stoichiometry and calibration curves. 

The selection of learning contexts should allow you to develop practical techniques to investigate substances that may be dissolved in water or found in soils, particularly salts, acids and bases, as well as gases. You will develop your skills in the use of scientific equipment and apparatus. You will use precipitation reactions to purify water: for example, by using iron or aluminium compounds to precipitate and remove phosphorus from wastewater. You will perform acid-base titrations, such as comparing the ethanoic acid concentrations of vinegar, mayonnaise and tomato sauce. You will construct calibration curves to analyse unknown concentrations of substances, such as the amount of nitrates or phosphates in water or soil samples. You will respond to challenges such as determining the set of standards required in setting up a calibration curve in colorimetry.

Many of the 17 goals in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development relate to ensuring that people have access to potable water, clean air and good quality soil to meet their basic needs. The quality of water, air and soil must be monitored closely to ensure that human health and the environment are not compromised.

In this area of study you will adapt or design and then conduct a scientific investigation related to chemical equations and/or analysis, which must include the generation of primary data. You will develop a research question related to the production of gases, acid-base or redox reactions or the analysis of substances in water, and adapt or design and then conduct a scientific investigation to generate appropriate quantitative data. You will organise and interpret the data and reach a conclusion in response to your research question.

Assessment

Assessment for Outcomes 1 and 2 may include: annotations of a practical work folio; a report of a practical activity; media response; problem-solving; data analysis; or a test.

Outcome 3 will be assessed by a report of a student-designed quantitative laboratory investigation using a scientific poster.

Pathways

Chemistry Unit 1 and 2 are completed in Year 11. It is expected that students studying Unit 3 and 4 Chemistry have previously achieved a competent standard in both Unit 1 and Unit 2 Chemistry. Acceleration is not available in this subject.

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Overview

How can chemical processes be designed to optimise efficiency?

The global demand for energy and materials is increasing with world population growth. In this unit, you will explore energy options and the chemical production of materials with reference to efficiencies, renewability and the minimisation of their impact on the environment.

You will compare and evaluate different chemical energy resources, including fossil fuels, biofuels, galvanic cells and fuel cells. You will investigate the combustion of fuels, including the energy transformations involved, the use of stoichiometry to calculate the amounts of reactants and products involved in the reactions, and calculations of the amounts of energy released and their representations. You will consider the purpose, design and operating principles of galvanic cells, fuel cells and electrolytic cells. In this context, you will use the electrochemical series to predict and write half and overall redox equations, and apply Faraday’s laws to calculate quantities in electrolytic reactions.

You will analyse manufacturing processes with reference to factors that influence their reaction rates and extent. You will investigate and apply the equilibrium law and Le Chatelier’s principle to different reaction systems, including to predict and explain the conditions that will improve the efficiency and percentage yield of chemical processes. You will use the language and conventions of chemistry including symbols, units, chemical formulas and equations to represent and explain observations and data collected from experiments and to discuss chemical phenomena.

During this unit, you will learn to compare fuels quantitatively with reference to combustion products and energy outputs, apply knowledge of the electrochemical series to design, construct and test galvanic cells, and evaluate energy resources based on energy efficiency, renewability and environmental impact. You will also investigate how to apply rate and equilibrium principles to predict how the rate and extent of reactions can be optimised, and explain how electrolysis is involved in the production of chemicals and in the recharging of batteries.

Download > VCE Chemistry Study Design

Prerequisites

It is expected that students studying Unit 3 and 4 Chemistry have previously achieved a competent standard in both Unit 1 and Unit 2 Chemistry.

Areas of Study

• What are the options for energy production?
• How can the yield of a chemical product be optimised?

Unit Assessment

• Unit 3 School assessed coursework (SAC’s) 16%
• Unit 4 School assessed coursework (SAC’s) 16%
• Unit 3 and/or 4 Practical Investigation 8%
• Unit 3 & 4 examination 60%

Assessment for Outcomes 1 and 2 may include: annotations of a practical work folio; a report of a practical activity; media response; problem-solving; data analysis; or a test.

Unit 3 or 4 Practical Investigation: A student-designed or adapted investigation related to energy and/or food is undertaken in either Unit 3 or Unit 4, or across both Units 3 and 4. The investigation is to relate to knowledge and skills developed across Units 3 and 4 and may be undertaken by the student through laboratory work and/or fieldwork.

A student practical investigation related to energy is undertaken in this unit and is assessed as Outcome 3. The findings of the investigation are presented in a scientific poster format.

Pathways

Acceleration is not available in this subject.

View Chemistry Careers Pathway

Overview

How are organic compounds categorised, analysed and used?

The carbon atom has unique characteristics that explain the diversity and number of organic compounds that not only constitute living tissues but are also found in the fuels, foods, medicines and many of the materials we use in everyday life. In this unit you will investigate the structural features, bonding, typical reactions and uses of the major families of organic compounds including those found in food.

You will study the ways in which organic structures are represented and named. You will process data from instrumental analyses of organic compounds to confirm or deduce organic structures and perform volumetric analyses to determine the concentrations of organic chemicals in mixtures. You will consider the nature of the reactions involved to predict the products of reaction pathways and to design pathways to produce particular compounds from given starting materials.

You will investigate key food molecules through an exploration of their chemical structures, the hydrolytic reactions in which they are broken down and the condensation reactions in which they are rebuilt to form new molecules. In this context the role of enzymes and coenzymes in facilitating chemical reactions is explored. You will use calorimetry as an investigative tool to determine the energy released in the combustion of foods.

A student practical investigation related to energy and/or food is undertaken.

During this unit, you will compare the general structures and reactions of the major organic families of compounds, deduce structures of organic compounds using instrumental analysis data, and design reaction pathways for the synthesis of organic molecules. The chemical structures of key food molecules, the chemical reactions involved in the metabolism of the major components of food including the role of enzymes, and calculations the energy content of food using calorimetry will also be studied.

Download > VCE Chemistry Study Design

Prerequisites

It is expected that students studying Unit 3 and 4 Chemistry have previously achieved a competent standard in both Unit 1 and Unit 2 Chemistry.

Areas of Study

• How can the diversity of carbon compounds be explained and categorised?
• What is the chemistry of food?

Unit Assessment

• Unit 3 School assessed coursework (SAC’s) 16%
• Unit 4 School assessed coursework (SAC’s) 16%
• Unit 3 and/or 4 Practical Investigation 8%
• Unit 3 & 4 examination 60%

Assessment for Outcomes 1 and 2 may include: annotations of a practical work folio; a report of a practical activity; media response; problem-solving; data analysis; or a test.

Unit 3 or 4 Practical Investigation: A student-designed or adapted investigation related to energy and/or food is undertaken in either Unit 3 or Unit 4, or across both Units 3 and 4. The investigation is to relate to knowledge and skills developed across Units 3 and 4 and may be undertaken by the student through laboratory work and/or fieldwork.

View Chemistry Careers Pathway