Program Overview

CHED106 - Physical and Organic Chemistry

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

Chemical reactions underpin almost every type of natural and manmade processes in our modern world. Building on content in Foundations of Chemistry, this unit introduces specific physical chemistry and organic chemistry concepts that underlie the scientific principles which govern chemical, biochemical, environmental, and industrial processes.

Learning Outcomes

To successfully complete this unit, students will be able to:

• Apply concepts and principles associated with chemical energy, chemical kinetics, and electron transfer reactions
• Predict the behaviour of chemical systems under varied conditions and develop an understanding of the importance of thermodynamics in physical chemistry
• Describe the structure of organic compounds and associated organic chemistry reaction mechanisms according to the functional groups they possess
• Understand the isomerism of organic compounds and its importance in the biological world and medicinal context
• Demonstrate competence in the practical skills and techniques used in physical and organic chemistry and analysis of experimental results

Content

Topics will include:

• Energy and chemical reactions
• Entropy and free energy
• Chemical kinetics
• Electrochemistry
• Hydrocarbons
• Conjugation, aromaticity, and reactions of aromatic compounds
• Chemical structure and reactions between organic compounds with different functional groups
• Stereoisomerism

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. In order to successfully complete this unit, students need to complete and submit three graded assessment tasks. These include:

• Mid-Semester Tests: Assessing students' knowledge and understanding of material covered in lectures and tutorials
• Laboratory-based Assessment: Evaluating students' data collection, processing, and evaluation skills, knowledge, and understanding of concepts relevant to lab activities
• Examination: Consisting of two exams, one mid-semester and one at the end of semester, judging students' engagement with the theoretical content

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

Several different learning and teaching strategies are employed in this unit through lectures, tutorials, and laboratory-based sessions. Lecture sessions encourage active participation and inquiry-based learning, assisting students to gain essential knowledge towards understanding the principles governing a variety of chemical processes. The practical and tutorial classes reinforce key concepts first introduced in lectures and offer students a more intimate opportunity to engage with the material.

Representative Texts and References

• Bettelheim, F. A., Brown, W.H. Campbell M. K., Farrell S., and Torres O.J. (2013) 'Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry' (8th Edition). Thomson Brook/Cole Publishers.
• Brown T.L., LeMay H.E., Burston B.E., Murphy C., Woodward P., Langford S., Sagatys D. and George A. (2013) 'Chemistry: The Central Science' (3rd edition), Pearson Education, Inc, NJ
• Engel T., Drobny G. and Reid P (2008) 'Physical chemistry for the Life Sciences', Pearson Education International, Prentice Hall.
• Kotz, J.C., Treichel P.M. and Townsend J.R. (2012) 'Chemistry and Chemical Reactivity' (8th edition), Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.

Credit Points

10

Year

2026

Prerequisites

CHED105 Foundations of Chemistry

Incompatible

CHEM106 Physical and Organic Chemistry