Year 12
Year 12
Chemistry

Year 12 Chemistry Unit 3 & 4

Unit 3

Studying Chemistry can enrich students’ lives through the development of particular knowledge, skills and attitudes, and enable them to become scientifically capable members of society. Some students will develop a passion for chemistry and be inspired to pursue further studies. All students, however, should become more informed, responsible decision-making citizens, able to use chemical knowledge and scientific arguments in their everyday lives and to evaluate and debate important contemporary issues such as the future of our environment and its management.

Students investigate the 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.

Students investigate organic reaction pathways and the chemistry of particular organic molecules. A detailed knowledge of the structure and bonding of organic chemicals is important to the work of the synthetic organic chemist. Synthesis of new medicines is one of the growth industries for the coming decades. Students investigate the role of organic molecules in the generation of biochemical fuels and forensic analysis

Entry

There are no prerequisites for entry to Units 1, 2 and 3. Students must undertake Unit 3 prior to undertaking Unit 4. Students entering Unit 3 without Units 1 and/or 2 may be required to undertake additional reading as prescribed by their teacher.

Outcomes

Each unit deals with specific content and is designed to enable students to achieve a set of outcomes. Each outcome is described in terms of key knowledge. A set of key skills is applicable to all units.
The set of key skills consists of the ability to:

  • Investigate and inquire scientifically
  • Apply chemical understandings
  • Communicate chemical information and understandings.

Outcome 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to evaluate the suitability of techniques and instruments used in chemical analyses.

Outcome 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to identify and explain the role of functional groups in organic reactions and construct reaction pathways using organic molecules

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Unit 4

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

Our society uses a range of energy sources, including coal to generate electricity and gas for heating, oil for transport, and solar and wind for small and large scale production of electricity. Students investigate how energy is produced from available resources and consider the efficiencies, advantages and disadvantages of each energy resource.

Galvanic cells and electrolytic cells operate by transforming chemical and electrical energy. Students investigate their operating principles, both in the laboratory and in important commercial and industrial applications including fuel cells. These cells are used in smaller appliances such as mobile phones, CD players, personal computers, and in larger scale systems such as cars and motor bikes, and in the production of chemicals.

Outcomes

Each unit deals with specific content and is designed to enable students to achieve a set of outcomes. Each outcome is described in terms of key knowledge. A set of key skills is applicable to all units.

The set of key skills consists of the ability to:

  • Investigate and inquire scientifically
  • Apply chemical understandings
  • Communicate chemical information and understandings.

Outcome 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse the factors that determine the optimum conditions used in the industrial production of the selected chemical.

Outcome 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse chemical and energy transformations occurring in chemical reactions.

Assessment

Units 4

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority will supervise the assessment of all students undertaking Units 3 and 4. In Chemistry the student’s level of achievement will be determined by school-assessed coursework, a mid-year and an end-of-year examination. Percentage contributions to the study score in Chemistry are as follows:

  • Unit 3 School Assessed Coursework 20 per cent
  • Unit 4  School Assessed Coursework: 20 per cent
  • End-of-year examination: 60 per cent

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