Albany Senior High School/Coursebook/3CHE

What is this course about?

 * Chemistry is the study of matter

Chemistry is about understanding the properties of different substances and how these substances can change. Chemistry allows us to predict how substances may alter when the surrounding conditions change, or how they may react to form new substances, and to explain why this happens. Chemists are continually changing matter into new and more useful forms.


 * Chemical transformations happen all the time, everywhere

Chemistry goes on continuously, all around us; in plants that make food using the air and in animals that digest this food, in the burning of fuel and rusting of cars, in the formation of snow and ice, in the industries that supply us with all our household products, and in the many biological processes that maintain the living world.


 * Chemists interpret the world from an atomic perspective

Chemists and students who study chemistry use their understanding of atoms, molecules, and ions – particles that are too tiny to be seen with our eyes – to explain and predict the properties and behaviour of different materials.

What will I learn?
All matter is made of particles The fundamental particle from which all matter is made is the atom. There are approximately 115 different atoms which form the building blocks of the molecular and ionic structures that make up all the known substances.

The properties of materials derive from the identity and arrangement of particles Atoms come together to form bonds during chemical reactions. The properties of the resulting materials depend on which atoms are combined and the way they are arranged.

Energy plays a key role in determining the changes that matter can undergo Energy changes occur during physical and chemical transformations as the bonds between atoms or molecules are broken and new bonds are formed. Since energy can be neither created nor destroyed, energy will determine the changes that matter can undergo.

Chemistry is everywhere Chemical transformations maintain the world around us. Most natural processes are based on chemistry and can be understood at a molecular level. For example, the chemical reactions occurring in cells will determine their structure and function and ultimately the nature of the organism to which it belongs.

What sorts of things will I do?
You will do a mixture of theory and practical work.


 * This includes carrying ot an investigation into the dissolved oxygen concentration in waterways,
 * Titrations,
 * Mixing chemicals,
 * Reading and applying chemistry knowledge,
 * Writing chemical equations,
 * Doing calculations to workout the energy of bonds and K constants in equilibrium,
 * Explaining reactions and properties using chemistry ideas.

Frequently asked questions:
What do I need to be able to successfully complete level 3 Chemistry?

It is highly recommended that students have passed, with merit or above, the level 2 chemistry course. If you do not have these standards you will need to see the head of science to discuss a programme of 'catch-up' work. This will ensure that you are able to understand the new concepts and skills required at this level of study.

What do I need to buy?

2B8 Hardback book

You will also need a scientific calculator

You are required to buy the following learning workbook, which will include all notes, activities and laboratory schedules:

Continuing Chemistry NCEA Level 3 : with enhanced CD- Terry Wales and Anne Wignall (ISBN: 9781442529144)

This can be purchased through your teacher.

A limited number of copies of a variety of text books are available in the school library which you may borrow. But it will be useful to be able to write, highlight make your own margin notes then It is HIGHLY recommended that you buy your own book.

Another useful text is

Year 13 NCEA Chemistry Study Guide-Douglas Barns-Graham, Suzanne Boniface and Jan Giffney (ISBN: 978-1-877291-87-6)