Chemistry
A deeper level of understanding
All our content is directly connected to subjects from the NSW Board of Studies. We begin by explaining the concepts, then we proceed to simpler questions and eventually tackle questions similar to those in exams.
A fun learning environment
Our lessons are both enjoyable and interactive. We encourage group discussions, and students are welcome to ask as many questions as they wish!
What Will You Get?
Personalised Homework Questions
At LOGOS Academia, we make homework personal. We customise assignments to target each student's weak spots. Weekly, they get a special booklet full of practice questions meant to tackle their unique challenges head-on.
Answer Books
We start preparing you as early as Year 6 to structure your mathematical explanations. Just like organising paragraphs and sentences in English, we teach students to logically present their work in math using our effective answer book system!
Our Proven Lessons Breakdown
30 MIN
We go through any homework related issues, and ensure all students are comfortable.
1HR 30 MIN
We teach new material, developing theory, and slowing move up in difficulty until we are answering exam-style questions.
Subject Details
Properties and structures of matter
Topic 1
Properties of Matter
- Explore homogeneous mixtures and heterogeneous mixtures
- Investigate the nomenclature of inorganic substances using International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) naming conventions
- Classify the elements based on their properties and position in the periodic table
Topic 2
Atomic structure and atomic mass
- Investigate the basic structure of stable and unstable isotopes
- Model the atom’s discrete energy levels, including electronic configuration and spdf notation
- Calculate the relative atomic mass from isotopic composition
- Investigate energy levels in atoms and ions
- Investigate the properties of unstable isotopes using natural and human-made radioisotopes as examples
Topic 3
Periodicity
- Demonstrate, explain and predict the relationships in the observable trends in the physical and chemical properties of elements in periods and groups in the periodic table
Topic 4
Bonding
- Investigate the role of electronegativity in determining the ionic or covalent nature of bonds between atoms
- Investigate the differences between ionic and covalent compounds through:
- Investigate elements that possess the physical property of allotropy
- Investigate the different chemical structures of atoms and elements
- Explore the similarities and differences between the nature of intermolecular and intramolecular bonds and the strength of the forces associated with each
Introduction to Quantiative Chemistry
Topic 1
Chemical Reactions and Stoichiometry
- Conduct practical investigations to observe and measure the quantitative relationships of chemical reactions
- Relate stoichiometry to the law of conservation of mass in chemical reactions
Topic 2
Mole Concept
- Conduct a practical investigation to demonstrate and calculate the molar mass (mass of one mole)
- Conduct an investigation to determine that chemicals react in simple whole number ratios by moles
- Explore the concept of the mole and relate this to Avogadro’s constant to describe, calculate and manipulate masses, chemical amounts and numbers of particles
Topic 3
Concentration and Molarity
- Conduct practical investigations to determine the concentrations of solutions and investigate the different ways in which concentrations are measured
- Manipulate variables and solve problems to calculate concentration, mass or volume
- Conduct an investigation to make a standard solution and perform a dilution
Topic 4
Gas Laws
- Conduct investigations and solve problems to determine the relationship between the Ideal Gas Law
Reactive Chemistry
Topic 1
Chemical Reactions
- Investigate a variety of reactions to identify possible indicators of a chemical change
- Use modelling
- Conduct investigations to predict and identify the products of a range of reactions
- Investigate the chemical processes that occur when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples detoxify poisonous food items
- Construct balanced equations to represent chemical reactions
Topic 2
Predicting Reactions of Metals
- Conduct practical investigations to compare the reactivity of a variety of metals
- Construct a metal activity series using the data obtained from practical investigations and compare this series with that obtained from standard secondary-sourced information
- Analyse patterns in metal activity on the periodic table and explain why they correlate with
- Apply the definitions of oxidation and reduction in terms of electron transfer and oxidation numbers to a range of reduction and oxidation (redox) reactions
- Conduct investigations to measure and compare the reduction potential of galvanic half-cells
- Construct relevant half-equations and balanced overall equations to represent a range of redox reactions
- Predict the reaction of metals in solutions using the table of standard reduction potentials
- Predict the spontaneity of redox reactions using the value of cell potentials
Topic 3
Rates of Reactions
- Conduct a practical investigation, using appropriate tools (including digital technologies), to collect data, analyse and report on how the rate of a chemical reaction can be affected by a range of factors
- Investigate the role of activation energy, collisions and molecular orientation in collision theory
- Explain a change in reaction rate using collision theory Critical and creative thinking
Drivers of Reactions
Topic 1
Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions
- Conduct practical investigations to measure temperature changes in examples of endothermic and exothermic reactions
- Investigate enthalpy changes in reactions using calorimetry and q=mcΔT (heat capacity formula) to calculate, analyse and compare experimental results with reliable secondary-sourced data, and to explain any differences
- Construct energy profile diagrams to represent and analyse the enthalpy changes and activation energy associated with a chemical reaction
- Model and analyse the role of catalysts in reactions
Topic 2
Enthalpy and Hess’s Law
- Explain the enthalpy changes in a reaction in terms of breaking and reforming bonds, and relate this to:
- Investigate Hess’s Law in quantifying the enthalpy change for a stepped reaction using standard enthalpy change data and bond energy data
- Apply Hess’s Law to simple energy cycles and solve problems to quantify enthalpy changes within reactions
Topic 3
Entropy and Gibbs Free Energy
- Analyse the differences between entropy and enthalpy
- Use modelling to illustrate entropy changes in reactions
- Predict entropy changes from balanced chemical reactions to classify as increasing or decreasing entropy
- Explain reaction spontaneity using terminology
- Solve problems using standard references and ΔG=ΔH−TΔS (Gibbs free energy formula) to classify reactions as spontaneous or nonspontaneous
- Predict the effect of temperature changes on spontaneity
Equilibrium and acid reactions
Topic 1
Static and Dynamic Equilibrium
- Conduct practical investigations to analyse the reversibility of chemical reactions
- Model static and dynamic equilibrium and analyse the differences between open and closed systems
- Analyse examples of non-equilibrium systems in terms of the effect of entropy and enthalpy
- Investigate the relationship between collision theory and reaction rate in order to analyse chemical equilibrium reactions Information and communication technology capability
Topic 2
Factors that Affect Equilibrium
- Investigate the effects of temperature, concentration, volume and/or pressure on a system at equilibrium and explain how Le Chatelier’s principle can be used to predict such effects
- Explain the overall observations about equilibrium in terms of the collision theory
- Examine how activation energy and heat of reaction affect the position of equilibrium
Topic 3
Calculating the Equilibrium Constant
- Deduce the equilibrium expression (in terms of Keq ) for homogeneous reactions occurring in solution
- Perform calculations to find the value of Keq and concentrations of substances within an equilibrium system, and use these values to make predictions on the direction in which a reaction may proceed (ACSCH096)
- Qualitatively analyse the effect of temperature on the value of Keq
- Conduct an investigation to determine Keq of a chemical equilibrium system
- Explore the use of Keq for different types of chemical reactions
Topic 4
Solution Equilibria
- Describe and analyse the processes involved in the dissolution of ionic compounds in water
- Investigate the use of solubility equilibria by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples when removing toxicity from foods
- Conduct an investigation to determine solubility rules, and predict and analyse the composition of substances when two ionic solutions are mixed
- Derive equilibrium expressions for saturated solutions in terms of Ksp and calculate the solubility of an ionic substance from its Ksp value
- Predict the formation of a precipitate given the standard reference values for Ksp
Acid/base reactions
Topic 1
Properties of Acids and Bases
- investigate the correct IUPAC nomenclature and properties of common inorganic acids and bases
- conduct an investigation to demonstrate the preparation and use of indicators as illustrators of the characteristics and properties of acids and bases and their reversible reactions
- predict the products of acid reactions and write balanced equations to represent:Information and communication technology capability
- investigate applications of neutralisation reactions in everyday life and industrial processes
- conduct a practical investigation to measure the enthalpy of neutralisation
- explore the changes in definitions and models of an acid and a base over time to explain the limitations of each model
Topic 2
Using Brønsted–Lowry Theory
- conduct a practical investigation to measure the pH of a range of acids and bases
- calculate pH, pOH, hydrogen ion concentration ([H+] ) and hydroxide ion concentration ([OH−] ) for a range of solutions
- conduct an investigation to demonstrate the use of pH to indicate the differences between the strength of acids and bases
- write ionic equations to represent the dissociation of acids and bases in water, conjugate acid/base pairs in solution and amphiprotic nature of some salts
- construct models and/or animations to communicate the differences between strong, weak, concentrated and dilute acids and bases(ACSCH099)Information and communication technology capability
- calculate the pH of the resultant solution when solutions of acids and/or bases are diluted or mixed
Topic 3
Quantitative Analysis
- conduct practical investigations to analyse the concentration of an unknown acid or base by titration
- investigate titration curves and conductivity graphs to analyse data to indicate characteristic reaction profiles
- model neutralisation of strong and weak acids and bases using a variety of media
- calculate and apply the dissociation constant (Ka ) and pKa(pKa=−log10(Ka)) to determine the difference between strong and weak acids(ACSCH098)
- explore acid/base analysis techniques
- conduct a chemical analysis of a common household substance for its acidity or basicity
- conduct a practical investigation to prepare a buffer and demonstrate its properties
- describe the importance of buffers in natural systems
Organic Chemistry
Topic 1
Nomenclature
- investigate the nomenclature of organic chemicals, up to C8, using IUPAC conventions, including simple methyl and ethyl branched chains
- explore and distinguish the different types of structural isomers, including saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons
Topic 2
Hydrocarbons
- construct models, identify the functional group, and write structural and molecular formulae for homologous series of organic chemical compounds, up to C8
- conduct an investigation to compare the properties of organic chemical compounds within a homologous series, and explain these differences in terms of bonding
- analyse the shape of molecules formed between carbon atoms when a single, double or triple bond is formed between them
- explain the properties within and between the homologous series of alkanes with reference to the intermolecular and intramolecular bonding present
- describe the procedures required to safely handle and dispose of organic substances Information and communication technology capability
- examine the environmental, economic and sociocultural implications of obtaining and using hydrocarbons from the Earth
Topic 3
Products of Reactions Involving Hydrocarbons
- investigate, write equations and construct models to represent the reactions of unsaturated hydrocarbons when added to a range of chemicals
- investigate, write equations and construct models to represent the reactions of saturated hydrocarbons when substituted with halogens
Topic 4
Alcohols
- investigate the structural formulae, properties and functional group
- explain the properties within and between the homologous series of alcohols with reference to the intermolecular and intramolecular bonding present
- conduct a practical investigations to measure and reliably compare the enthalpy of combustion for a range of alcohols
- write equations, state conditions and predict products to represent the reactions of alcohols
- investigate the production of alcohols, including:
- investigate the products of the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols
- compare and contrast fuels from organic sources to biofuels
Topic 5
Reactions of Organic Acids and Bases
- investigate the structural formulae, properties and functional group
- explain the properties within and between the homologous series of carboxylic acids amines and amides with reference to the intermolecular and intramolecular bonding present
- investigate the production, in a school laboratory, of simple esters
- investigate the differences between an organic acid and organic base
- investigate the structure and action of soaps and detergents
- draft and construct flow charts to show reaction pathways for chemical synthesis, including those that involve more than one step
Topic 6
Polymers
- model and compare the structure, properties and uses of addition polymers of ethylene and related monomers
- model and compare the structure, properties and uses of condensation polymers
Applying chemical ideas
Topic 1
Analysis of Inorganic Substances
- analyse the need for monitoring the environment
- conduct qualitative investigations – using flame tests, precipitation and complexation reactions as appropriate – to test for the presence in aqueous solution
- conduct investigations and/or process data
- conduct investigations and/or process data to determine the concentration of coloured species and/or metal ions in aqueous solution
Topic 2
Analysis of Organic Substances
- conduct qualitative investigations to test for the presence in organic molecules
- investigate the processes used to analyse the structure of simple organic compounds addressed in the course
Topic 3
Chemical Synthesis and Design
- evaluate the factors that need to be considered when designing a chemical synthesis process
