Handbook

This subject is designed for students who have completed HSC chemistry or equivalent. The subject reinforces and builds on core concepts covered in high school chemistry, providing the basis of further studies in chemistry, medical and health sciences/pre-med, environmental/earth sciences, biological sciences, and STEMM education. You will develop strong connections between the fundamental components of elements and molecules (molecular scale) and observable properties and behaviour of molecules in our everyday lives(macroscale). Concepts include the fundamentals of quantity, mole and stoichiometric calculations, the properties and behaviour of matter on the molecular scale based on electron configuration, periodicity, chemical bonding and molecular shape.

Your understanding of matter will be applied to principles of thermodynamics, equilibrium, and kinetics as you interpret and describe chemical and physical change. You will exercise your understanding of chemical principles by carrying out experiments and engaging in essential group discussions in laboratories and workshops.

Students will attain laboratory skills in safe handling of glassware, analytical solution preparation, acid/base titrations, synthesis techniques including Buchner and gravity filtration, gas measurements and spectrophotometry. Additionally, students will learn how to calculate results from raw data generated in the laboratory, and to analyse the outcomes. These skills will also be applied in theoretical questions.