Done with Unit 3 of QCE Chemistry and are beginning to work on Unit 4?
To help you develop an understanding of what you’ll be learning in this unit, we’ll break down all of the topics you’ll be taking on and provide you with guides on how to complete your assessments for QCE Chemistry Unit 4.
Ready to get started? Let’s go!
What is Unit 4 in QCE Chemistry all about?
Topic 1: Properties and Structure of Organic Material
Topic 2: Chemical Synthesis and Design
QCE Chemistry Unit 4 Assessments
Study Tips
Unit 4 is the second of your two formative senior units for Chemistry. This means that the assessments you do for this unit (IA3 and EA) will count towards your ATAR.
The unit is split into two topics:
These topics cover a variety of subtopics from equilibrium constants to electrolytic cells.
This subtopic covers:
Number of Substituents | Multiplier |
---|---|
2 | Di |
3 | Tri |
4 | Tetra |
5 | Penta |
Number of Carbons | Prefix for Main Chain |
---|---|
1 | Meth |
2 | Eth |
3 | Prop |
4 | But |
5 | Pent |
6 | Hex |
7 | Hept |
8 | Oct |
9 | Non |
10 | Dec |
IUPAC Rules
- Find and name longest continuous carbon chain (root/parent name)
- Identify and name groups attached to this chain (branches/substituent groups): 1C methyl, 2C ethyl, 3C propyl
- Number chain consecutively, starting at the end nearest a substituent group
- Designate the location of each substituent group by an appropriate number and name
- First write the names of the substituent groups in the order of <number dash name>
- If the same branch is present more than once, write the numbers first separated by commas and use ‘di tri tetra penta’ to describe them
- If different branches are present, arrange the names in alphabetical order ‘butyl ethyl methyl propyl’
- Last write the ‘root name’ which is the name of the longest chain as one word
Image sourced from Wikipedia
This subtopic covers:
Class of Compound | Intermolecular Forces | Melting/Boiling Point | Polarity & Solubility in Water |
---|---|---|---|
Alkane | - dispersion force | Low | Low Non soluble |
Alcohol | - dispersion force - hydrogen bond - dipole-dipole | High | High Soluble |
Aldehyde | - dispersion force - dipole-dipole | Medium | Medium |
Ketone | - dispersion force - dipole-dipole | Medium | Medium Soluble |
Carboxylic acid | - dispersion force - dipole-dipole - hydrogen bond | Medium/High | Medium/High Soluble |
Ester | - dispersion force - dipole-dipole | Medium | Medium |
Amide | - dispersion force - dipole-dipole - hydrogen bond | Medium/High | Medium/High |
Amine | - dispersion force - hydrogen bond | High | High Soluble |
Nitrile | - dispersion force - hydrogen bond | High | High Soluble |
This subtopic covers:
This subtopic covers:
Image sourced from Khan Academy
Image sourced from Research Gate
Image sourced from TLAMJS
Amylose | - Has few glucose units per polymer and is unbranched - Hydrogen bonding forms between sugar units further away gains amylose final shape a coil - Soluble in water |
Amylopectin | - Has large number of glucose units per polymer bonded by α1-4 glycosidic bonds - It is branched by forming α1-6 glycosidic - Because of its larger size, amylopectin does not dissolve in water and is the water insoluble part of the starch - Hydrogen bonding formed between sugar units |
Cellulose | - Monomer is a β- glucose which forms β1-4 glycosidic bonds - They form hydrogen bonding with glucose units forms different polymer chains |
This subtopic covers:
This subtopic covers:
This subtopic covers:
Image sourced from Compound Interest
This subtopic covers:
Image sourced from Syracuse Chemistry of Artifacts Project
Image sourced from Khan Academy
Image sourced from Lumen
This subtopic covers:
IA3 is the research investigation. It will assess your ability to create a scientific essay that evaluates a given claim. It constitutes 20% of your overall grade. To find out how to write your research investigation, see The Ultimate Guide to Conducting a QCE Chemistry Research Investigation So You Can Maximise Marks.
It is an exam that consists of both Unit 3 and 4 content and constitutes 50% of your overall grade. To find out how to best prepare for the external assessment, see How to Ace Your External Assessment for QCE Chemistry.
For practice questions, see:
Use diagrams, flowcharts and other visual forms of displaying information where you can when making your notes — this will help to make things more easy to memorise.
Include examples of each concept you learn about. For example, if you’re learning about buffer solutions, make sure to include examples of a few relevant buffer solutions!
The syllabus has a guide on how much time should be spent on each subtopic.
While this guide is technically for teachers and their lesson planning, you as a student can also use it to help guide your study (i.e. to figure out which topics may be more important and therefore require more study time).
We can help you master the QCE Chemistry syllabus and ace your upcoming Chemistry assessments with personalised lessons conducted one-on-one in your home or online!
We’ve supported over 8,000 students over the last 11 years, and on average our students score mark improvements of over 20%!
To find out more and get started with an inspirational QCE tutor and mentor, get in touch today or give us a ring on 1300 267 888!
Yalindi Binduhewa is an Art of Smart tutor based in Queensland and was part of the very first cohort to go through the ATAR system, so she knows exactly how fun and enjoyable it can be. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Medical Imaging (Honours) at QUT and is loving it. When she’s not doing uni-related stuff or tutoring, she’s hanging out with her friends, rewatching a show for the 100th time, or trying out new crafty projects and discovering that she doesn’t have a talent for everything.