CHEMISTRY

Focus Areas

Unit 1

How can the diversity of materials be explained?

The development and use of materials for specific purposes is an important human endeavour. In this unit students 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 using renewable raw materials and a transition from a linear economy towards a circular economy.

Students 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 students 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.

Area of Study 1 – How do the chemical structures of materials explain their properties and reaction?

This area of study focuses on elements as the building blocks of materials. Students investigate the structures, properties and reactions of carbon compounds, metals and ionic compounds. They use chromatography to separate the components of mixtures. Students looks at the transition in manufacturing processes from a linear economy to a circular economy, for example metal recycling processes.

Students develop practical techniques to investigate the properties and reactions of various materials by developing their skills in the use of scientific equipment and apparatus and through a range of practical and interactive activities that supplement the theory component learnt in the classroom.