Overview
Jumpstart Chemistry is a ‘bridging book’, aimed at students who are entering VCE Chemistry Units 3 & 4 and are keen to revise their Unit 1 & 2 content. Jumpstart Chemistry covers all the essential content and skills out of Units 1 & 2 that students must know or understand to successfully complete Units 3 & 4. It can also be used throughout the year as revision material.
Jumpstart Chemistry is designed so that students can use it independently. For example, students may choose to use it over the summer holidays between year 11 and 12 in preparation for the demanding final VCE year. The book offers students a combination of theory and revision contained in double-page spreads. Within this format, students can immediately test their understanding of theory (on the left-hand page) by answering the questions (on the right-hand page).
Key Features
• The material within each section is covered in discrete double-page spreads, with theory on the left-hand side and questions and write-on answer space on the right.
• Jumpstart Chemistry is a full-colour write on theory/workbook. Each section contains a glossary of key terms.
Students can access answers on www.nelsonjumpstart.com.au.
This book has been designed to give students in achieving their best possible score in VCE Chemistry.
Section A: Measurement and mole theory
Key terms
Elements, compounds and mixtures
Isotopes and mass spectra
The relative mass scale
Atomic number and mass number
The mole
Theoretical percentage composition by mass
Calculations involving the amount of substance
Empirical and molecular formulas
Degree of hydration of a hydrated salt
Section B: Gases and the gas laws
Key terms
Kinetic molecular theory of gases
Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curves
Volume, temperature and pressure units
The combined gas equation
The general gas equation
Molar volume of gases
Gases of the atmosphere
Section C: Concentrations of substances
Key terms
Molarity
Preparation of standard solutions
Alternative concentration units
Changing concentration units
Dilution of solutions
Section D: Stoichiometry
Key terms
Law of conservation of mass
General approach to stoichiometry
Mass-volume stoichiometry
Volumetric analysis
Gas stoichiometry
Volume-volume stoichiometry
Section E: Structure and bonding
Key terms
Bohr model of the atom
Quantum mechanical model of the atom
Exciting atoms and emission spectra
Periodic Yable
Chemical reactivity
Classes of substance
Trends of the Periodic Table
Types of bonding
Ionic compounds
Molecular substances
Section F: Acid-base reactions and pH
Key terms
Acids-base reactions
Strong and weak acids
Strong and weak bases
Amphiprotic substances
Self-ionisation of water
Ionic product of water
pH and the pH scale
Calculations involving pH
Typical reactions of acids
Section G: Redox reactions and galvanic cells
Key terms
Redox reactions
Electrochemical series
Predicting redox reactions
Galvanic cells
Oxidation numbers
Identifying oxidants and reductants
Writing balanced equations for redox reactions
Section H: Organic chemistry
Key terms
Organic families
Alkanes
Structural isomers
Systematic nomenclature for alkanes
Alkenes
Systematic nomenclature for alkenes
Writing balanced equations for combustion reactions
Addition reactions
Addition polymers
Jenny Sharwood is a highly experienced teacher who has authored many books on science and chemistry. Jenny is secretary of the RACI Education Group and runs many workshops to assist teachers in teaching science.