Study design

Chemistry

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Unit 30/33

In this area of study students focus on analysing and comparing a range of fossil fuels and biofuels as energy sources for society, and carbohydrates, proteins and lipids as fuel sources for the body. They write balanced thermochemical equations for the combustion of various fuels. The amounts of energy and gases produced in combustion reactions are quantified using stoichiometry. They explore how energy can be sustainably produced from chemicals to meet the needs of society while minimising negative impacts on the environment. The selection of learning contexts should allow students to develop practical techniques to investigate how energy from fuels can be obtained and measured, and to determine the efficiency of different fuels and electrochemical cells as sources of energy. Students develop their skills in the use of scientific equipment and apparatus. They may measure energy released in combustion reactions through quantitative calorimetry experiments and may compare amounts of energy released in different fuels, such as methane, alcohols, waxes and foods. They design, construct and test galvanic and fuel cells, and account for differences between experimental findings and predictions made by using the electrochemical series. Students may work collaboratively to construct electrochemical half-cells and experiment with different combinations of half-cells to develop their own electrochemical series. Students respond to challenges such as designing an electrochemical cell that generates the most energy under laboratory conditions using a limited range of supplied chemicals and materials.

Carbon-based fuels0/8

the definition of a fuel, including the distinction between fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, petrol) and biofuels (biogas, bioethanol, biodiesel) with reference to their renewability (ability of a resource to be replaced by natural processes within a relatively short period of time)
12
fuel sources for the body measured in $\text{kJ g}^{-1}$ : carbohydrates, proteins and lipids (fats and oils)
photosynthesis as the process that converts light energy into chemical energy and as a source of glucose and oxygen for respiration in living things: $6CO_2(g) + 6H_2O(l) \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6(aq) + 6O_2(g)$
2
oxidation of glucose as the primary carbohydrate energy source, including the balanced equation for cellular respiration: $C_6H_{12}O_6(aq) + 6O_2(g) \rightarrow 6CO_2(g) + 6H_2O(l)$
6
production of bioethanol by the fermentation of glucose and subsequent distillation to produce a more sustainable transport fuel: $C_6H_{12}O_6(aq) \rightarrow 2C_2H_5OH(aq) + 2CO_2(g)$
9
comparison of exothermic and endothermic reactions, with reference to bond making and bond breaking, including enthalpy changes ( $\Delta H$ ) measured in $\text{kJ}$ , molar enthalpy changes measured in $\text{kJ mol}^{-1}$ and enthalpy changes for mixtures measured in $\text{kJ g}^{-1}$ , and their representations in energy profile diagrams
12
determination of limiting reactants or reagents in chemical reactions
2
combustion (complete and incomplete) reactions of fuels as exothermic reactions: the writing of balanced thermochemical equations, including states, for the complete and incomplete combustion of organic molecules using experimental data and data tables
18

Measuring changes in chemical reactions0/4

calculations related to the application of stoichiometry to reactions involving the combustion of fuels, including mass–mass, mass–volume and volume–volume stoichiometry, to determine heat energy released, reactant and product amounts and net volume or mass of major greenhouse gases ( $CO_2$ , $CH_4$ and $H_2O$ ), limited to standard laboratory conditions (SLC) at $25\ ^\circ\text{C}$ and $100\ \text{kPa}$
23
the use of specific heat capacity of water to approximate the quantity of heat energy released during the combustion of a known mass of fuel and food
13
the principles of solution calorimetry, including determination of calibration factor and consideration of the effects of heat loss; analysis of temperature–time graphs obtained from solution calorimetry
11
energy from fuels and food: calculation of energy transformation efficiency during combustion as a percentage of chemical energy converted to useful energy; and comparison and calculations of energy values of foods containing carbohydrates, proteins and fats and oils
24

Primary galvanic cells and fuel cells as sources of energy0/7

redox reactions as simultaneous oxidation and reduction processes, and the use of oxidation numbers to identify the reducing agent, oxidising agent and conjugate redox pairs
8
the writing of balanced half-equations (including states) for oxidation and reduction reactions, and the overall redox cell reaction in both acidic and basic conditions
12
the common design features and general operating principles of non-rechargeable (primary) galvanic cells converting chemical energy into electrical energy, including electrode polarities and the role of the electrodes (inert and reactive) and electrolyte solutions (details of specific cells not required)
16
the use and limitations of the electrochemical series in designing galvanic cells and as a tool for predicting the products of redox reactions, for deducing overall equations from redox half-equations and for determining maximum cell voltage under standard conditions
18
the common design features and general operating principles of fuel cells, including the use of porous electrodes for gaseous reactants to increase cell efficiency (details of specific cells not required)
30
the application of Faraday's Laws and stoichiometry to determine the quantity of galvanic or fuel cell reactant and product, and the current or time required to either use a particular quantity of reactant or produce a particular quantity of product
4
contemporary responses to challenges and the role of innovation in the design of fuel cells to meet society's energy needs, with reference to green chemistry principles: design for energy efficiency, and use of renewable feedstocks
6

In this area of study, students explore the factors that affect the rate and yield of equilibrium and electrolytic reactions involved in producing important materials for society. Reactants and products in chemical reactions are treated qualitatively through the application of Le Chatelier's principle and quantified using equilibrium expressions, reaction quotients and Faraday's Laws. Students explore the sustainability of different options for producing useful materials for society. The selection of learning contexts should allow students to develop practical techniques to investigate equilibrium and electrolysis. Students develop their skills in the use of scientific equipment and apparatus. They investigate reaction rates including the measurement of mass, gas volumes and time. They use an equilibrium system, such as iron(III) thiocyanate, to predict and test the effect of different changes to the system. They investigate the effect of catalysts on reaction rates, such as comparing the rate of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using organic and inorganic catalysts. Students explore the application of electrolysis in the manufacture of useful products through experiments such as electroplating and anodising. They model and explain the operation of secondary cells: for example, those in portable devices such as laptops or cell phones. Students respond to challenges such as predicting and testing the optimum conditions under which a selected reaction can produce the highest product yield.

Rates of chemical reactions0/2

factors affecting the frequency and success of reactant particle collisions and the rate of a chemical reaction in open and closed systems, including temperature, surface area, concentration, gas pressures, presence of a catalyst, activation energy and orientation
15
the role of catalysts in increasing the rate of specific reactions, with reference to alternative reaction pathways of lower activation energies and represented using energy profile diagrams
11

Extent of chemical reactions0/7

the distinction between reversible and irreversible reactions, and between rate and extent of a reaction
3
the dynamic nature of homogeneous equilibria involving aqueous solutions or gases, and their representation by balanced chemical or thermochemical equations (including states) and by concentration–time graphs
2
the change in position of equilibrium that can occur when changes in temperature or species or volume (concentration or pressure) are applied to a system at equilibrium, and the representation of these changes using concentration–time graphs
22
the application of Le Chatelier's principle to identify factors that favour the yield of a chemical reaction
12
calculations involving equilibrium expressions (including units) for a closed homogeneous equilibrium system and the dependence of the equilibrium constant ( $K_c$ ) value on the system temperature and the equation used to represent the reaction
24
the reaction quotient ( $Q$ ) as a quantitative measure of the extent of a chemical reaction: that is, the relative amounts of products and reactants present during a reaction at a given point in time
2
responses to the conflict between optimal rate and temperature considerations in producing equilibrium reaction products, with reference to the green chemistry principles of catalysis and designing for energy efficiency
2

Production of chemicals using electrolysis0/5

the use and limitations of the electrochemical series to explain or predict the products of the electrolysis of particular chemicals, given their state (molten liquid or in aqueous solution) and the electrode materials used, including the writing of balanced equations (with states) for the reactions occurring at the anode and cathode and the overall redox reaction for the cell
20
the common design features and general operating principles of commercial electrolytic cells (including, where practicable, the removal of products as they form), and the selection of suitable electrode materials, the electrolyte (including its state) and any chemical additives that result in a desired electrolysis product (details of specific cells not required)
8
the common design features and general operating principles of rechargeable (secondary) cells, with reference to discharging as a galvanic cell and recharging as an electrolytic cell, including the conditions required for the cell reactions to be reversed and the electrode polarities in each mode (details of specific cells not required)
36
the role of innovation in designing cells to meet society's energy needs in terms of producing 'green' hydrogen (including equations in acidic conditions) using polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis powered by either photovoltaic (solar) or wind energy, and using artificial photosynthesis with a water oxidation and proton reduction catalyst system
8
the application of Faraday's Laws and stoichiometry to determine the quantity of electrolytic reactant and product, and the current or time required to either use a particular quantity of reactant or produce a particular quantity of product
19

Unit 40/42

Structure, nomenclature and properties of organic compounds0/4

characteristics of the carbon atom that contribute to the diversity of organic compounds formed, with reference to valence electron number, relative bond strength, relative stability of carbon bonds with other elements, degree of unsaturation (carbon–carbon double bonds), and the formation of structural isomers
7
molecular, structural and semi-structural (condensed) formulas and skeletal structures of alkanes (including cyclohexane), alkenes, benzene, haloalkanes, primary amines, primary amides, alcohols (primary, secondary and tertiary), aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and non-branched esters
26
the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) systematic naming of organic compounds up to $C_8$ , with no more than two functional groups for a molecule, limited to non-cyclic hydrocarbons, haloalkanes, primary amines, alcohols (primary, secondary and tertiary), aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and non-branched esters
18
trends in physical properties within and between homologous series (boiling point and melting point, viscosity), with reference to structure and bonding
17

Reactions of organic compounds0/10

organic reaction pathway (equations, reactants, products, reaction conditions and catalysts; specific enzymes not required): synthesis of primary haloalkanes and primary alcohols by substitution
7
organic reaction pathway: addition reactions of alkenes
8
organic reaction pathway: the esterification between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid
6
organic reaction pathway: hydrolysis of esters
organic reaction pathway: pathways for the synthesis of primary amines and carboxylic acids
11
organic reaction pathway: transesterification of plant triglycerides using alcohols to produce biodiesel
3
organic reaction pathway: hydrolytic reactions of proteins, carbohydrates and fats and oils to break down large biomolecules in food to produce smaller molecules
21
organic reaction pathway: condensation reactions to synthesise large biologically important molecules for storage as proteins, starch, glycogen and lipids (fats and oils)
19
calculations of percentage yield and atom economy of single-step or overall reaction pathways, and the advantages for society and for industry of developing chemical processes with a high atom economy
10
the sustainability of the production of chemicals, with reference to the green chemistry principles of use of renewable feedstocks, catalysis and designing safer chemicals
5

Laboratory analysis of organic compounds0/4

qualitative tests for the presence of carbon–carbon double bonds, hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups
3
applications and principles of laboratory analysis techniques in verifying components and purity of consumer products, including melting point determination and distillation (simple and fractional)
3
measurement of the degree of unsaturation of compounds using iodine
4
volumetric analysis, including calculations of excess and limiting reactants using redox titrations (excluding back titrations)
11

Instrumental analysis of organic compounds0/7

applications of mass spectrometry (excluding features of instrumentation and operation) and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data, including identification of molecular ion peak, determination of molecular mass and identification of simple fragments
22
identification of bond types by qualitative infrared spectroscopy (IR) data analysis using characteristic absorption bands
11
structural determination of organic compounds by low resolution carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance ( $^{13}\text{C-NMR}$ ) spectral analysis, using chemical shift values to deduce the number and nature of different carbon environments
12
structural determination of organic compounds by low and high resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( $^1\text{H-NMR}$ ) spectral analysis, using chemical shift values, integration curves (where the height is proportional to the area underneath a peak) and peak splitting patterns (excluding coupling constants), and application of the $n+1$ rule (where $n$ is the number of neighbouring protons) to deduce the number and nature of different proton environments
12
the principles of chromatography, including high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the use of retention times and the construction of a calibration curve to determine the concentration of an organic compound in a solution (excluding features of instrumentation and operation)
24
deduction of the structures of simple organic compounds using a combination of mass spectrometry (MS), infrared spectroscopy (IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( $^1\text{H-NMR}$ ) and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance ( $^{13}\text{C-NMR}$ ) (limited to data analysis)
10
the roles and applications of laboratory and instrumental analysis, with reference to product purity and the identification of organic compounds or functional groups in isolation or within a mixture

Medicinal chemistry0/5

extraction and purification of natural plant compounds as possible active ingredients for medicines, using solvent extraction and distillation
1
identification of the structure and functional groups of organic molecules that are medicines
5
significance of isomers and the identification of chiral centres (carbon atom surrounded by four different groups) in the effectiveness of medicines
9
enzymes as protein-based catalysts in living systems: primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures and changes in enzyme function in terms of structure and bonding as a result of increased temperature (denaturation), decreased temperature (lowered activity), or changes in pH (formation of zwitterions and denaturation)
25
medicines that function as competitive enzyme inhibitors: organic molecules that bind through a lock-and-key mechanism to an active site preventing binding of the actual substrate
3

Students undertake a student-designed scientific investigation in either Unit 3 or Unit 4, or across both Units 3 and 4. The investigation involves the generation of primary data related to the production of energy and/or chemicals and/or the analysis or synthesis of organic compounds, and should be inspired by a contemporary chemical challenge or issue. The investigation draws on knowledge and related key science skills developed across Units 3 and 4 and is undertaken by students in the laboratory and/or in the field. When undertaking the investigation students are required to apply the key science skills to develop a question, state an aim, formulate a hypothesis and plan a course of action to answer the question, while complying with safety and ethical guidelines. Students then undertake an experiment to generate primary quantitative data, analyse and evaluate the data, identify limitations of data and methods, link experimental results to scientific ideas, discuss implications of the results, and draw a conclusion in response to the question. The presentation format for the investigation is a scientific poster constructed according to the structure outlined [on page 14](#Poster). A logbook is maintained by students for recording, assessment and authentication purposes.

Investigation design0/5

chemical concepts specific to the selected scientific investigation and their significance, including definitions of key terms
1
characteristics of the selected scientific methodology and method, and appropriateness of the use of independent, dependent and controlled variables in the selected scientific investigation
11
techniques of primary quantitative data generation relevant to the selected scientific investigation
the accuracy, precision, repeatability, reproducibility, resolution and validity of measurements
7
the health, safety and ethical guidelines relevant to the selected scientific investigation
5

Scientific evidence0/4

the nature of evidence that supports or refutes a hypothesis, model or theory
2
ways of organising, analysing and evaluating primary data to identify patterns and relationships, including sources of error and uncertainty
3
authentication of generated primary data through the use of a logbook
assumptions and limitations of investigation methodology and/or data generation and/or analysis methods
12

Science communication0/3

conventions of science communication: scientific terminology and representations, symbols, formulas, standard abbreviations and units of measurement
conventions of scientific poster presentation, including succinct communication of the selected scientific investigation, and acknowledgements and references
4
the key findings and implications of the selected scientific investigation
3