WhizzNotes

Chemistry

Matter, atoms, the periodic table, bonding and reactions. Written for Year 10 to 12 students and anyone preparing for a chemistry entrance exam.

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Unit 1 Matter

  1. 1What is Chemistry?Matter, mass and weight, how science builds knowledge, the branches of chemistry and where it all came from.
  2. 2States of MatterSolids, liquids and gases explained with the particle model, and the changes of state between them.
  3. 3Classifying MatterPure substances and mixtures, elements and compounds, solutions, and physical and chemical properties.
  4. 4Separating MixturesFiltration, evaporation, crystallisation, distillation, chromatography and more, and how to pick the right method.

Unit 2 Working Scientifically

  1. 5Planning an InvestigationResearch, hypotheses, variables, safety, and how to write a method someone else can follow.
  2. 6Data, Graphs and ErrorsResults tables, graphs, trends, errors and uncertainty, and how to judge and improve an experiment.

Unit 3 Chemistry Maths

  1. 7Units and Unit ConversionsSI units, prefixes, mass, volume and temperature conversions, and scientific notation.
  2. 8Ratios and Rearranging EquationsRatios, proportion, percentages, density, and how to rearrange any formula to find the unknown.

Unit 4 Atoms

  1. 9Inside the AtomElements and atoms, how the model of the atom changed over time, and the nucleus and electron cloud.
  2. 10Protons, Neutrons and ElectronsCharges and masses of the three particles, atomic and mass numbers, isotopes and ions.
  3. 11Electron ConfigurationHow electrons fill shells, Bohr diagrams for the first 20 elements, valence electrons and subshells.

Unit 5 The Periodic Table

  1. 12Reading the Periodic TableHow the table is arranged, groups and periods, metals and non-metals, and the main families of elements.
  2. 13Trends in the Periodic TableHow atomic size, reactivity, metallic character and electronegativity change across periods and down groups.

Unit 6 Bonding, Structure and Properties

  1. 14Ionic BondingMetals give electrons to non-metals. Writing ionic formulas, naming ionic compounds, and why salt is hard and brittle.
  2. 15Covalent BondingNon-metals share electrons. Single, double and triple bonds, electron dot diagrams, and naming molecules.
  3. 16Molecular Shapes and PolarityDrawing Lewis structures step by step, predicting shapes with VSEPR, and telling polar from non-polar bonds and molecules.
  4. 17Metallic BondingPositive ions in a sea of electrons, why metals conduct and bend, and how alloys make metals stronger.
  5. 18Structure and PropertiesThe four main structures, diamond and graphite, and how to identify a mystery substance from its properties.

Unit 7 Chemical Reactions

  1. 19Chemical Reactions and EquationsPhysical and chemical changes, signs of a reaction, conservation of mass, and writing word and formula equations.
  2. 20Balancing Chemical EquationsCount atoms, change only the big numbers, and balance any equation step by step.
  3. 21Types of Chemical ReactionsSynthesis, decomposition, single and double displacement, the activity series and predicting precipitates.
  4. 22CombustionThe fire triangle, complete and incomplete combustion of fuels, testing the products, and burning metals.

Unit 8 Module 5: Equilibrium and Acid Reactions

  1. 23Static and Dynamic EquilibriumReversible reactions, open and closed systems, dynamic and static equilibrium, and how enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy decide if a reaction happens by itself.
  2. 24Factors that Affect EquilibriumLe Chatelier's principle, and how changing concentration, pressure, volume and temperature, or adding a catalyst, shifts an equilibrium. Includes reading graphs and collision theory.
  3. 25Calculating the Equilibrium ConstantWriting equilibrium expressions, calculating K with ICE tables, using the reaction quotient Q to predict direction, and how temperature changes K.
  4. 26Solution EquilibriaHow ionic compounds dissolve, solubility rules, the solubility product Ksp, molar solubility, predicting precipitates with Q, the common ion effect, and how Aboriginal peoples removed toxins from food.

Unit 9 Module 6: Acid/Base Reactions

  1. 27Properties of Acids and BasesWhat acids and bases do, indicators, the reactions of acids, neutralisation and salts, the enthalpy of neutralisation, and how the ideas of Lavoisier, Davy and Arrhenius changed over time.
  2. 28Brønsted-Lowry TheoryAcids as proton donors and bases as proton acceptors, conjugate pairs, amphiprotic substances, strong and weak versus concentrated and dilute, pH and pOH, Kw, Ka and pKa.
  3. 29Quantitative Analysis of Acids and BasesStandard solutions and primary standards, titration technique and calculations, choosing an indicator from a titration curve, conductometric titrations, back titrations and buffers.

Unit 10 Module 7: Organic Chemistry

  1. 30Naming Organic CompoundsHomologous series, functional groups, the IUPAC naming rules for chains, branches and functional groups, the ways to draw organic molecules, and structural isomers.
  2. 31HydrocarbonsAlkanes, alkenes and alkynes, their shapes, intermolecular forces and boiling points, solubility, safe handling, and the environmental, economic and social effects of using fuels from the Earth.
  3. 32Reactions of HydrocarbonsAddition reactions of alkenes with hydrogen, halogens, hydrogen halides and water, Markovnikov's rule, the bromine water test, and substitution reactions of alkanes with halogens in UV light.
  4. 33AlcoholsPrimary, secondary and tertiary alcohols, their properties, combustion and measuring the heat of combustion, dehydration, substitution and oxidation, and making ethanol by fermentation or from ethene.
  5. 34Reactions of Organic Acids and BasesCarboxylic acids, amines and amides, their boiling points and solubility, esterification by reflux, making and cleaning an ester, and how soaps, detergents and surfactants clean.
  6. 35PolymersAddition polymers (polyethylene, PVC, polystyrene, PTFE) and condensation polymers (polyesters, polyamides such as nylon and Kevlar), how structure decides properties, and the problems and benefits of plastics.

Unit 11 Module 8: Applying Chemical Ideas

  1. 36Analysis of Inorganic SubstancesWhy we monitor ions in the environment, tests for cations and anions (precipitates, flame tests and complexes), gravimetric analysis, precipitation titrations, colorimetry, UV-visible spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectroscopy.
  2. 37Analysis of Organic SubstancesChemical tests for functional groups, then mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, carbon-13 NMR and proton NMR, and how to combine them to identify an unknown compound.
  3. 38Chemical Synthesis and DesignHow chemists design a way to make a product, weighing yield, purity, rate, cost, energy, safety, waste and environmental impact, with case studies from industry and green chemistry.

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