Chemistry overview for years 3 to 5

The subject-group overviews show the units taught in each year in each discipline. They include the unit title, key and related concepts, global contexts, statements of inquiry,
objectives, ATL skills and the content (if any).

For years 1 and 2, please see the “Modular sciences overview”.

Year 3

Unit title and Related Statement of

Key concept Global context Objectives ATL skills Content
teaching hours concept(s) inquiry

Atomic structure Systems Models Personal and cultural Models are A Thinking: critical Atomic models: Thomson, Rutherford and Bohr
expression: the ways in created and thinking
15 hours Evidence which we discover and modified over Subatomic particles: the electron, proton and neutron
express ideas time to express Thinking: transfer and their characteristics
new ideas formed Communication: Introduction to bonding ionic, covalent, and
by experimental communication metallic bonds. How electrons are used differently in
evidence. each type of bond. Simple models to demonstrate
Research:
each type
information literacy
Electronic configurations of atoms
Research: media
literacy

Energy and chemical Change Interaction Scientific and technical A change in B Thinking: critical The law of conservation of mass
change innovation: the impact matter is a thinking
Consequences of scientific and consequence of D Physical change, chemical change, reactant,
15 hours technological advances energy Self-management: product, combustion
on communities and differences reflection
Definition of the terms “catalyst” and “precipitate”
environments between Thinking: creative
substances. thinking Writing word and symbol equations
Scientists and
Communication: Importance of the subscripts (and coefficients) in
technicians make
communication equations
use of this to
create a range of Changes in matter in terms of physical changes and
Self-management:
innovative chemical changes and the types of evidence that
organization
products. identify a chemical change from a physical change
Research: and how this is related to energy change
information literacy
Types of chemical reaction: single-/double-
Research: media displacement reaction, decomposition, neutralization,
literacy synthesis, combustion reaction, endothermic and
 Unit title and Related Statement of
Key concept Global context Objectives ATL skills Content
teaching hours concept(s) inquiry

exothermic reactions
Identify the names and formulas for common
laboratory acids and alkalis.
Balancing chemical equations (Limited to simple
compounds and elements or counting
atoms/particles in a diagrammatic problem)
Concept that chemical potential energy is stored
within compounds and that it can be released in a
controlled manner to do work or produce heat

Solutions Relationships Evidence Globalization and The formation of B Thinking: critical The attraction between molecules at the surface of a
sustainability: the a solution thinking liquid is called surface tension.
15 hours Form relationship between provides C
local and global evidence of a Social: Solutions are homogeneous mixtures that can be
processes relationship collaboration solid, liquid or gas. Metal alloys are solid solutions.
between the Air is a gaseous solution. Aqueous solutions are
Communication: solutions that have water as the solvent.
natures of communication
substances. The substance being dissolved is called the solute;
Self-management: the substance doing the dissolving is called the
organization solvent.
Self-management: The amount of a substance that can dissolve in a
affective liquid (at a particular temperature) is called the
Research: solubility of the substance.
information literacy Each substance has a different solubility, which
depends on its interaction with water.
Solutions are said to be saturated when no more
solute can be dissolved.
The concentration of a solution tells us how much
solute has been dissolved in the solvent. The units
of concentration are grammes of solute per millilitre
of solvent. A concentrated solution contains more
solute than a dilute solution.
Electrolytes are solutions that can conduct electricity.
They are created by dissolving a salt, acid or base in
water.
A suspension is a mixture of two substances, one of
which is finely divided and is dispersed in the other.
A colloid is a type of mixture intermediate between a
homogeneous mixture (also called a solution) and
a heterogeneous mixture and also has properties
that are intermediate between the two.
An emulsion is a suspension of two liquids that do
not usually mix together.
 Unit title and Related Statement of
Key concept Global context Objectives ATL skills Content
teaching hours concept(s) inquiry

Acids and bases Relationships Function Fairness and The strength of A Thinking: critical pH scale
development: rights acids and bases thinking
20 hours and responsibilities is related to the B Indicators (litmus, universal, phenolphthalein)
function of the Thinking: creative
C thinking Conductivity
degree of
dissociation and Research: media Concentrated, diluted, strong and weak acids and
determines how literacy bases
they should be
Research: Household detergents
used and
disposed of. information literacy
Self-management:
organization
Self-management:
affective
Communication:
communication
Social:
collaboration

Environmental Relationships Balance Scientific and technical Scientific and D Thinking: critical Importance of carbon, nitrogen and water
cycles innovation: the impact technological thinking
Transformation of scientific and advances are Water cycle
15 hours technological advances impacting upon Self-management:
reflection Treatment and recycling of water
on communities and the naturally
environments balanced Communication: Carbon cycle
relationships communication Nitrogen cycle
provided by the
effective Social:
transformations collaboration
in environmental
Self-management:
cycles.
organization
Research:
information literacy
Research: media
literacy
Year 4

Unit title and Related Statement of

Key concept Global context Objectives ATL skills Content
teaching hours concept(s) inquiry

Periodic trends Relationships Change Orientation in space The form of the A Thinking: critical The periodic table shows the positions of metals,
and time: discoveries periodic table is thinking non-metals and metalloids.
15 hours Form evolving due to
knowledge- Thinking: transfer Metals tend to lose electrons and so they form
Function cations. Non-metals tend to gain electrons so they
challenging Thinking: creative
discoveries, thus form anions.
thinking
enhancing its Elements in a group have the same oxidation state
function of Communication: and therefore similar chemical properties.
showing trends in communication
the physical and Shielding is the decrease in attraction between an
Self-management: electron and the nucleus in any atom with more
chemical
organization than one electron shell.
properties of the
elements.
• As the number of electron shells
increases, shielding increases.
• No change occurs as you move across a
period.

Vertical and horizontal trends in the periodic table

exist for atomic radius, ionization energy and
electronegativity.
Atomic radius is the distance between the nuclei of
two atoms of the same element, or the size of an
atom. The atomic radius:
• increases as you move down a group
because more electron shells are being
added that are further away from the
nucleus
• decreases as you move across a period.
Ionization energy is the amount of energy it takes
to remove the most loosely held electron from an
atom. The ionization energy:
• decreases as you move down a group
because of shielding
• increases as you move across a period
because the electrons are more tightly
held to the nucleus due to the effective
nuclear charge.
Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom in a
bond to pull electrons towards itself. The
electronegativity:
Unit title and Related Statement of
Key concept Global context Objectives ATL skills Content
teaching hours concept(s) inquiry

• decreases as you move down a group

because the atom has a weaker ability to
accept electrons
• increases as you move across a period
because the charge on the nucleus
becomes stronger and so the atom can
attract more electrons.

Stoichiometry Systems Balance Scientific and technical The scientifically B Thinking: critical Concept of the mole
innovation: how constructed thinking
20 hours Conservation humans use their systems for C Avogadro’s number
understanding of balancing Thinking: creative
thinking Relative molecular mass and relative atomic mass
scientific principles chemical
equations require Social: collaboration Empirical and molecular formula
the numbers and
Communication: Percentage composition
types of atoms to
be conserved. communication Stoichiometric calculations
Communication: Solutions and problems involving concentrations
collaboration
Self-management:
organization
Research:
information literacy
Communication:
media literacy

Gas laws Relationships Movement Scientific and technical Humans can C Thinking: critical Kinetic molecular theory
innovation: how manipulate the thinking
10 hours Conditions humans use their conditions Conversions for temperature and pressure
understanding of impacting upon Thinking: reflection
Graphing and calculations
scientific principles gas particles, Research:
thereby information literacy
determining their
movement. Social: collaboration

Redox reactions Systems Transfer Scientific and technical Designers use B Thinking: critical Definition of oxidation and reduction (electron
innovation: how the balanced thinking transfer)
20 hours Balance humans use their systems C
understanding of maintained by the Thinking: creative Rules for assigning oxidation numbers
D thinking
scientific principles transfer of Definition of oxidising agent and reducing agent
electrons in redox Self-management:
reactions to reflection Half reactions
develop a range
Social: collaboration Reactivity series
of products.
Communication: Factors (for example, concentration, types of
communication electrode) that effect cell voltage
Self-management:
Electrolysis reactions
Unit title and Related Statement of
Key concept Global context Objectives ATL skills Content
teaching hours concept(s) inquiry

organization
Electrolytic cells and factors (for example,
Research:
concentration of solutions, temperature, types of
information literacy
Research: media solutions) that effect electrolysis reactions
literacy Applications of redox reactions (for example,
batteries, purification of metals, galvanizing)

Food chemistry Change Culture Identities and A person’s health A Thinking: critical Determining caloric values of food
relationships: personal is influenced by thinking
15 hours Influences health cultural and D Macromolecules and enzymes
conditional Thinking: creative
Balance thinking Colour and flavour
changes to his or
Conditions her diet. Self-management: Shelf life
reflection Additives
Thinking: transfer Food technology
Communication:
communication
Research:
information literacy
Research: media
literacy
Year 5

Unit title and Related Statement of

Key concept Global context Objectives ATL skills Content
teaching hours concept(s) inquiry

Chemical Systems Patterns Globalization and Systems for A Thinking: critical Chemical formula review
nomenclature sustainability: the explaining the thinking Naming of simple compounds
Development interconnectedness of world are
15 hours human-made systems constructed by Thinking: transfer Naming of ionic compounds
Models
and communities observing Communication:
patterns. Naming of positive ions
communication
Naming of negative ions
Self-management:
organization Naming of polyatomic ions
Naming of acids: organic and inorganic
Naming of organic compounds (alkanes,
alkenes)

Bonding Relationships Interactions Globalization and Scientists use A Thinking: critical Bonds are formed to achieve stability.
sustainability: the bonding models thinking
15 hours Nature interconnectedness of to explain the D Positive ions (cations) form by metals losing
human-made systems nature of Self-management: valence electrons.
Models reflection
and communities interactions Negative ions (anions) form by non-metals gaining
between different Social: collaboration electrons.
types of particles.
Self-management: The number of electrons lost or gained is
organization determined by the electron configuration of the
atom.
Communication:
communication The ionic bond is due to electrostatic attraction
between oppositely charged ions.
Research:
information literacy A covalent bond is the electrostatic attraction
between a shared pair of electrons and the
Research: media positively charged nuclei.
literacy
Single, double and triple covalent bonds involve
Self-management: one, two and three shared pairs of electrons,
affective respectively.
Lewis (electron dot) structures show all the
valence electrons in a covalently bonded species.
The ‘octet rule’ refers to the tendency of atoms to
gain a valence shell with a total of eight electrons.
Carbon and silicon form giant covalent/network
covalent/macromolecular structures.
A metallic bond is the electrostatic attraction
between a lattice of positive ions and delocalized
electrons
 Unit title and Related Statement of
Key concept Global context Objectives ATL skills Content
teaching hours concept(s) inquiry

Alloys usually contain more than one metal and

have enhanced properties.
Thermochemistry Change Energy Scientific and technical Physical and B Thinking: critical Energy changes (transformation)
innovation: how chemical thinking
20 hours Process humans use their processes C Temperature and heat
understanding of involve energy Self-management:
D reflection Describing the difference between physical and
scientific principles changes that can chemical changes in terms of energy
be used to create Thinking: transfer
a range of Qualitative and quantitative measurements.
products and Social: collaboration
Units of energy
solutions that
Communication:
impact on Exothermic and endothermic processes
communication
humankind and Combustion as an exothermic reaction
the environment. Self-management:
organization Difference between complete and incomplete
combustion
Research:
information literacy The role of fossil fuels in our modern society
Bond breaking as an endothermic and bond
making as an exothermic process
Heat capacity and specific heat capacity
Using calorimetry to measure changes in heat
(enthalpy) and determine the enthalpy change for
a chemical process
Concept of equipment accuracy

Kinetics and Relationships Balance Scientific and technical Equilibrium is the A Thinking: critical Reaction rate and collision theory
equilibrium innovation: the natural state of balance thinking
Reaction world and its laws attained when B Factors affecting the rate of reaction: nature of
20 hours opposing reaction Thinking: creative reactants, concentration, surface area, catalyst,
C thinking temperature
rates become
equal. Thinking: transfer Equilibrium
Communication: • Physical
communication • Chemical
• Le Chatelier’s principle: concentration,
Self-management:
temperature and pressure changes,
organization
effect of a catalyst
Self-management:
affective
Research:
information literacy
 Unit title and Related Statement of
Key concept Global context Objectives ATL skills Content
teaching hours concept(s) inquiry

Organic chemistry Change Form (Structure) Orientation in space In order for B Thinking: critical Identification of the following: alkane, alkene,
and time: turning points structure and thinking alcohol, carboxylic acid
10 hours Energy in humankind energy to
continue driving Thinking: creative Nomenclature for straight-chain organic molecules
change, finite thinking
Combustion reactions
fossil fuels will Self-management:
need to be affective Fossil fuels
replaced by
renewable raw Social: collaboration
materials.
Self-management:
reflection