Australia · ACARA Content Descriptions
Year 11 Chemistry
This course explores the fundamental principles of chemistry through the lens of atomic structure and chemical reactivity. Students investigate how the microscopic arrangement of particles dictates macroscopic properties and energy changes in chemical systems.
Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
Students examine the evolution of atomic theory and the relationship between electron configuration and periodic trends.
Tracing the history of atomic theory from Dalton to the quantum mechanical model.
Investigating how the arrangement of electrons determines the physical and chemical properties of elements.
Exploring the stability of the nucleus and the applications of radioisotopes in medicine and industry.
Materials and Bonding
An investigation into the different types of chemical bonds and how they influence the properties of materials.
Understanding the electrostatic forces that hold ions and metal cations together in lattice structures.
Exploring how electron sharing leads to the formation of molecules and complex network solids.
Analyzing the weak forces between molecules that determine boiling points and solubility.
Chemical Reactions and Stoichiometry
Quantifying chemical change through the mole concept and balanced chemical equations.
Introducing the mole as a bridge between the atomic scale and the laboratory scale.
Using balanced equations to predict the mass and volume of products formed in a reaction.
Investigating the behavior of gases and the relationship between pressure, volume, and temperature.
Aqueous Solutions and Solubility
Exploring the behavior of substances when dissolved in water and the factors affecting solubility.
Examining the interaction between solute and solvent particles during the formation of a solution.
Calculating the amount of solute in a given volume of solution and performing dilutions.
Predicting the formation of insoluble salts using solubility rules and net ionic equations.
Energy and Thermodynamics
Analyzing the energy changes that accompany chemical reactions and physical processes.
Distinguishing between exothermic and endothermic reactions through temperature changes and enthalpy diagrams.
Calculating reaction enthalpies using indirect methods and average bond energy data.
Comparing the energy density and environmental impact of fossil fuels and biofuels.
Reaction Rates and Equilibrium
Investigating the factors that influence the speed of reactions and the nature of reversible systems.
Exploring how temperature, concentration, and surface area affect the frequency of successful collisions.
Understanding the dynamic nature of reversible reactions in closed systems.
Predicting the shift in equilibrium position when a system is subjected to change.