At a glance
A science course where students learn what substances are made of and how they change. Students use experiments, data and models to understand reactions, energy changes and how chemistry is used in everyday life and industry.
Important: Chemistry students must also be enrolled in at least one of these maths courses: Mathematical Methods, Specialist Methods, Specialist Mathematics.
This course is a good choice for students who:
- enjoy science and want to understand how matter and reactions work
- like practical investigations, calculations and problem-solving
- may be interested in science, engineering, medicine or environmental pathways
About this course
Chemistry is the study of materials and the transformations they undergo through interactions and energy transfer. Students learn key ideas about structure, bonding and chemical change, and use evidence from investigations to explain and predict outcomes. Assessment usually includes practical investigations and reports, plus tests and research or analysis tasks.
Pathways
This course can support pathways into areas such as:
- chemistry and other sciences
- engineering and environmental science
- medicine, pharmacy and health science
- careers that use materials and chemical knowledge (for example, food or forensic science)
Units in this course
Students complete 2 units for a Minor or 4 units for a Major.
Chemical Fundamentals
This unit is about atoms, bonding and chemical reactions, and how these ideas explain properties of materials.
Students will:
- use models of atomic structure and bonding to explain properties
- investigate reactions and energy changes, including using the mole concept
Molecules
This unit is about molecules and reactions, including solutions, acids and rates of reaction.
Students will:
- explore water and solutions (including acidity) and how substances dissolve
- measure and explain reaction rates and the factors that change them
Equilibrium and Redox Reactions
This unit is about equilibrium (reversible reactions that balance out over time) and redox reactions (reactions where electrons move).
Students will:
- explore how conditions affect equilibrium systems
- investigate redox reactions and how cells can produce electricity
Structure, Synthesis and Design
This unit is about designing and making substances, including organic chemistry and chemical synthesis.
Students will:
- explore how structure affects properties of organic compounds
- investigate synthesis and analysis data, and how chemistry designs useful products