Overview
In Chemical Investigation and Theory you will learn about chemical bonding theories and apply these to justify the observed properties of matter. This unit will extend your knowledge of nuclear chemistry by introducing different types of nuclear radiation and the representation of these processes by chemical equations and also the application of half-life calculations. You will use the First Law of Thermodynamics to study heat energies associated with chemical reactions and also consider the effects of changing conditions on established chemical equilibria. The nature of solutions will be investigated with particular focus on colligative properties and the Ideal Gas Equation will be used to describe the nature of gases. Aspects of environmental chemistry will be introduced.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2024
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Via Q&A sessions and student evaluation
Some students requested earlier worked answers to assessment tasks.
Early provision needs to be considered in the context of student feedback being aware of students who may have extensions for the task.
Feedback from Student valuation
Some lecture material could be clearer.
This is an area of ongoing review and it is suggested that students reach out for support at any time they find difficulty with a topic within the unit.
- Describe the structure of the atom and its sub-atomic particles and relate this to the trends observed in the Periodic Table
- Apply bonding theories to explain the shape, polarity and bonding that occurs in and between molecules
- Describe the composition and synthesis of organic polymers
- Describe the nature of colligative properties
- Apply chemical laws to explain chemical reactions and gas behaviour
- Describe types of nuclear radiation and perform half life calculations
- Discuss important reactions in the environment.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||||
| 2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | |||||||
| 3 - Online Test - 40% | |||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Online Test - 40% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Chemistry
5th edition (2023)
Authors: Blackman, Bottle, Schmid, Mocerino, Wille
Wiley
Milton Milton , QLD , Australia
ISBN: 9780730396673
Binding: Hardcover
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microsoft Office
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Vancouver
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.anastasi@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to atomic structure, quantum numbers and the Periodic Table
Chapter
Lecture 1: Atomic Structure
1.1 The essential concepts in brief
1.3 The structure of the atom
1.5 Electrons in atoms
Lecture 2: The Periodic Table - layout, groups, periods, blocks
1.4 The Periodic Table of the Elements
Lecture 3: The nature of electrons - quantum numbers
4.4 Quantisation and quantum numbers
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Electronic configuration and Periodicity
Chapter
Lecture 1: Electronic orbitals and the Periodic Table
4.5 Atomic orbital electron distributions and energies
Lecture 2: Electronic configurations and valence electrons
4.6 Structure of the Periodic Table
4.7 Electron configurations - only up to Configuration of ions
Lecture 3: Trends in the Periodic Table
4.8 Periodicity of atomic properties
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lewis Dot structures and Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory (VSEPR)
Chapter
Lecture 1: Introduction to atomic bonding
5.1 Fundamentals of bonding
5.2 Ionic Bonding
Lecture 2: Lewis Structures
5.3 Lewis Structures
Lecture 3: Fundamentals of VSEPR
5.4 VSEPR theory
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment Item 1, Online Quiz (1) due: 5:00 PM (AEST) Friday 22 March 2024
Module/Topic
Valence Bond Theory
Chapter
Lecture 1: Properties of covalent bonds
5.5 Properties of Covalent Bonds
Lecture 2: Valence Bond Theory
5.6 Valence Bond Theory
Lecture 3: Worked examples of VSEPR and VBT
(no specific readings)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Molecular Orbital Theory
Chapter
Lecture 1: Molecular orbital theory - homonuclear diatomic molecules - s orbital overlap
5.7 Molecular orbital theory: diatomic molecules - to end of Molecular orbitals of H2
Lecture 2: Molecular orbital theory - homonuclear diatomic molecules - p orbital overlap
5.7 Molecular orbital theory: diatomic molecules - Molecular orbitals of O2
Lecture 3: Heteronuclear diatomic molecules
5.7 Molecular orbital theory: Heteronuclear diatomic molecules
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Liquids and solids
Chapter
Lecture 1: Intermolecular Forces
6.8 Intermolecular forces
Lecture 2: Macroscopic properties of liquids and solids
7.1 Liquids
7.2 Solids
Lecture 3: Phase changes and phase diagrams
7.3 Phase changes
7.4 Order in solids
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment Item 2, Written Assessment (Task A) due: 5:00 PM (AEST) Friday 19 April 2024
Module/Topic
Solutions and solubilities
Chapter
Lecture 1: Nomenclature of inorganic compounds
2.3 Nomenclature (up to and not including naming organic compounds)
Lecture 2: Solubility and solubility product
10.1 Introduction to solutions and solubility
10.4 Carry out calculations involving slightly soluble salts
Lecture 3: Colligative properties
10.5 Quantify the effects that arise in solutions as a result of colligative properties.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Gases
Chapter
Lecture 1: Gas behaviour
6.1 The states of matter
6.2 Describing gases
Lecture 2: Properties of gas mixtures
6.4 Gas mixtures
Lecture 3: Applying the Ideal Gas Equation
6.5 Applications of the Ideal Gas equation
6.6 Gas Stoichiometry
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Polymers
Chapter
Lecture 1: Introduction to polymers
26.1 The architecture of polymers
26.2 Use correct notation and nomenclature to describe polymers
Lecture 2: Condensation polymers
26.3 Formation of polymers (only condensation or step-growth polymers)
Lecture 3: Addition polymers
26.3 Formation of polymers (only addition or chain-growth polymers)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment Item 1, Online Quiz (2) due: 5:00 PM (AEST) Friday 10 May 2024
Module/Topic
Chemistry in the Environment
Chapter
No readings from the text.
See eReading list on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Nuclear Chemistry
Chapter
Lecture 1: Nuclear stability and decay
27.1 Nuclear stability
27.2 Unstable nuclei
Lecture 2: Formation of new elements - dating methods
27.3 Synthesis of new elements
27.4 Radioactive dating methods
Lecture 3: Applications of nuclear processes
27.5 Applications of nuclear processes
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment Item 2, Written Assessment (Task B) due: 5:00 PM (AEST) Friday 24 May 2024
Module/Topic
Review
Chapter
All unit content
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment Item 1, Online Quiz (3) due: 5:00 PM (AEST) Friday 31 May 2024
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
This assessment is comprised of three (3) online quizzes which will assess your understanding of topics presented in this unit. This assessment requires you to apply concepts to answer a series of multiple choice questions. All questions in each quiz are of equal value.
The three online quizzes will contribute a total of 30% of the assessment for this unit, each quiz contributing 10%.
Quiz 1 will cover Atomic Structure, Periodic Table, Electronic Configurations,
Quiz 2 will cover Gases,
Quiz 3 will cover Nuclear Chemistry
The quizzes are not timed and you are allowed two attempts; the highest score of the two attempts will be recorded. Note that questions are generated randomly and you will receive different questions on subsequent attempts.
3
Other
The quizzes will be due at 5:00 PM (AEST) on the Friday at the end of Weeks 3, 9 and 12.
Quiz results will be released after the completion of each attempt.
All questions are of equal weighting. One mark will be awarded for each correct response.
- Describe the structure of the atom and its sub-atomic particles and relate this to the trends observed in the Periodic Table
- Apply chemical laws to explain chemical reactions and gas behaviour
- Describe types of nuclear radiation and perform half life calculations
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
2 Written Assessment
There will be two components to this written assessment, Task A and Task B.
Task A
This task will require you to
- Explain bonding in a molecule using bonding theories covered in the unit
- Show any calculations
- Clearly draw the molecule bonding according to the relevant theory used
A task document and any additional detail and instructions will be provided via the Unit Moodle site.
Task B
This task will require you to
- Explain the nature of colligative properties and perform relevant calculations
- Discuss polymer formation
- Discuss reactions in the environment
A task document and any additional detail and instructions will be provided via the Unit Moodle site.
Task A of this assessment is due 5:00 PM (AEST), Friday 19 April (End of week 6). Task B of this assessment is due 5:00 PM (AEST), Friday 24 May (End of week 11).
Part A of this assessment will be returned by end of week 8. Part B will be returned by end of Review/Exam Week.
Marks for each question will be awarded as indicated on the Assessment Item 2, Task A and B documents, provided on Moodle.
Marks will be awarded for
- Application and explanation of relevant bonding theories
- Relevance and clarity of diagrams
- Clarity of explanations
- Demonstrated understanding of the nature of colligative properties
- Demonstrated understanding of the composition and synthesis of organic polymers
- Accurate, informed discussion of important reactions in the environment
- Correct calculations and use of significant figures and units
Note: all working must be shown
- Apply bonding theories to explain the shape, polarity and bonding that occurs in and between molecules
- Describe the composition and synthesis of organic polymers
- Describe the nature of colligative properties
- Discuss important reactions in the environment.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
3 Online Test
This assessment will be comprised of higher-order multiple-choice questions that address the learning objectives of this unit.
The assessment will be conducted online, through the Moodle Quiz facility and will be timed. You will have 2 hours to complete the assessment within the allocated 24-hour period which the test is available.
A scientific calculator and Periodic Table may be required for some questions.
Please ensure you have a good, stable internet connection during the assessment period.
More information on this assessment task will be made available on Moodle.
Review/Exam Week Monday (3 June 2024) 11:00 am AEST
The online test will open on Sunday 2 June at 11:00 am AEST, and will close 24 hours later. Once you open the quiz, you will have 2 hours to complete.
Marks will be returned within 7 days of the Online Test being completed
All questions will be of equal weighting. Marks will be awarded for each correct response.
- Describe the structure of the atom and its sub-atomic particles and relate this to the trends observed in the Periodic Table
- Apply bonding theories to explain the shape, polarity and bonding that occurs in and between molecules
- Describe the composition and synthesis of organic polymers
- Describe the nature of colligative properties
- Apply chemical laws to explain chemical reactions and gas behaviour
- Describe types of nuclear radiation and perform half life calculations
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
