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TASChemistry

Unit 4: Structure, Synthesis and Design

8 dot points across 8 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do chemists identify and measure substances in a sample?

Select and interpret spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques to determine structure and concentration
Mass spectrometry, infrared, UV-visible and NMR spectroscopy, chromatography and volumetric analysis, and how each technique is used to identify or quantify substances.
8 min answer →

How does structure and bonding explain the physical properties of substances?

Relate bonding type and intermolecular forces to melting point, boiling point, solubility and conductivity.
Ionic, covalent and metallic bonding, dispersion forces, dipole-dipole forces and hydrogen bonding, and how they explain melting point, solubility and conductivity.
7 min answer →

How do carboxylic acids behave and how are esters formed?

Describe the acidity of carboxylic acids and the esterification and hydrolysis of esters.
The acidity of carboxylic acids, their reactions with bases and carbonates, esterification with alcohols, and the hydrolysis of esters.
7 min answer →

How do chemists design efficient pathways to make target molecules?

Design multistep synthesis pathways and evaluate them using yield and green chemistry principles
Designing multistep synthesis routes, reaction pathways between functional groups, percentage yield and atom economy, and green chemistry principles.
7 min answer →

How do we name organic molecules and account for their isomers?

Apply IUPAC nomenclature and identify structural and stereo isomers of organic compounds.
Systematic IUPAC naming of organic compounds, structural isomers, chain branching, and cis-trans (geometric) isomerism.
7 min answer →

How does the structure of organic molecules determine their reactions?

Classify organic functional groups and describe their characteristic reactions
Hydrocarbon families and functional groups, IUPAC naming, isomerism, and the characteristic reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, acids and esters.
8 min answer →

How are large polymer molecules built from small monomers?

Distinguish addition and condensation polymerisation and relate polymer structure to properties
Addition and condensation polymerisation, monomers and repeating units, natural and synthetic polymers, and how structure determines polymer properties.
7 min answer →

What reactions do alcohols undergo and how do we classify them?

Classify alcohols and describe their oxidation, dehydration, substitution and combustion reactions.
Classifying primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols and their reactions: oxidation, dehydration to alkenes, substitution and combustion.
7 min answer →