VCE Chemistry

Area of Study One

This Area of Study focuses on the factors that affect the rate and extent of a chemical reaction. Students study energy profiles and how equilibrium law is applied to homogeneous equilibria. Students conduct experiments to investigate the effect of temperature, concentration of reactants, pressure and catalysts on the position of equilibrium of a reaction, and apply Le Chatelier’s Principle to explain their results.

Students explore how factors affecting rate and equilibrium are applied to achieve the optimum reaction conditions in the industrial production of chemicals.

One chemical selected from ammonia, ethene, sulfuric acid or nitric acid is studied in detail.

This is a description of the knowledge required to satisfy VCAA Outcome 1: Industrial Chemistry

What are the assessment tasks for this Area of Study?

A summary report including annotations of three practical activities drawn from either Area of Study 1 or 2. At Salesian College, we will most likely do the summary report from this Area of Study. This task will be worth 50% of the internal assessment for the Unit. From the second Area of Study (Supplying and Using Energy) assessment will consist of a written report on one practical activity (25%) and an analysis of data using structured questions (a test). This task will also be worth 25%.

Area of Study Two

This Area of Study focuses on use of different energy resources. Students evaluate the extent of reserves of some of these resources, how each resource is used and the advantages and disadvantages of their continued use. Students conduct experiments using calorimeters to measure the energy of chemical reactions.

The electrochemical series is used to predict redox reactions in aqueous solution. Students construct and operate simple galvanic and electrolytic cells and use the electrochemical series to predict and explain their results. They extend their study of stoichiometry with the application of Faraday’s Laws to solve problems involving quantitative calculations for electrolysis reactions.

Supplying and using energy description
“VCE Chemistry Units 3 and 4″ text: relevant chapters are “Chapter 10” (Energy as a Resource), “Chapter 12” (Galvanic Cells and their Applications) and “Chapter 13” (Electrolysis).