Welcome to First Year Chemistry

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• Welcome to First Year Chemistry

Dr Brendan Abrahams Director of First Year
Studies bfa_at_unimelb.edu.au
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Chemistry - A Central Science

• A knowledge of chemistry is essential for
  understanding and participating in nearly all
  branches of technology and science that support
  modern society.
• Chemistry can be studied as a discipline in
  itself or a prerequisite for other science
  subjects.
• It is a KEY SUBJECT in
• the First Year Packages

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Chemistry as a prerequisite...

• A large number of science subjects require
  chemistry as a prerequisite....
• ...many others benefit from a knowledge of
  chemistry.

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Why study Chemistry as a breadth subject?
Chemistry provides an understanding at a
fundamental level of how our world works. In
our modern technology-based society, scientific
literacy offers considerable advantages.
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Chemistry as a breadth subject
Chemistry lies at the centre of many matters
relating to the welfare of society. For
example Health care Natural
resources Provision of food Clothing Shel
ter Energy Protection of the environment
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Chemistry as a breadth subject
Chemistry allows us to make sense of the world
around us.
Why are we able to store honey and jam in a
cupboard whereas as foods like milk need to be
stored in a refrigerator?
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What chemistry subjects should I do?
610-101 - Chemistry 1 610-102 - Chemistry
2 610-171 - Fundamentals of Chemistry 610-150 -
Chemistry for Biomedicine 511-124 - Oral Health
Sciences (Chemistry)
610 is the code for chemistry.
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If you have completed Year 12 (or equivalent)
Semester 1 610-101 Chemistry 1 Semester
2 610-102 Chemistry 2
Each subject is worth 12.5 points. A student
will normally complete 100 points in a year.
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If you have not completed Year 12 (or equivalent)
Semester 1 610-171 Fundamentals
of Chemistry Semester 2 610-101 Chemistry
1 Summer semester 610-102 Chemistry 2
Each subject is worth 12.5 points. If you
perform very well in the 610-171 exam you may be
invited to enrol directly into 610-102.
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610-171 Subject Structure
The subject runs only in semester 1. Contact
hours 36 x 1 hour lectures - 3 per week 12 x
1 hour tutorials - 1 per week 6 x 3 hour
practicals
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610-171 Subject Structure
The subject runs only in semester 1. Assessment
1 x 3 hour examination - 65 3 x multiple
choice take home tests - 15 6 x 3 hour
practicals - 20
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610-101 (Chemistry 1) and 610-102 (Chemistry
2) Subject Structure
610-101 runs in semester 1 and is repeated in
semester 2. 610-102 runs in semester 2 and is
repeated in Summer semester.
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610-101 (Chemistry 1) and 610-102 (Chemistry
2) Subject Structure
Contact hours 36 x 1 hour lectures - 3 per
week 12 x 1 hour tutorials - 1 per week 6 x 3
hour practicals 4 independent learning tasks
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610-101 (Chemistry 1) and 610-102 (Chemistry
2) Subject Structure
Assessment 1 x 3 hour examination - 75 1 x
multiple choice test - 5 6 x 3 hour practicals
- 20
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Lectures

• Provide an opportunity for the Lecturer to
  introduce topics.
• Much more material is covered in a lecture than
  in a school class period.
• Often lecture notes (slide handouts) are
  available on the web.
• May have up to 500 students in attendance.

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Lectures

• Students need to listen carefully and take
  notes.
• Dont allow yourself to be distracted.
• Review and expand your notes regularly.

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Lecture structure for 610-171
Lectures are presented by 3 lecturers. Block 1
General chemistry Dr Colette Boskovic Block
2 General chemistry Assoc. Prof. Peter
Tregloan Block 3 Organic chemistry Assoc.
Prof. Jonathan White
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Lecture structure for 610-101
Lectures are presented by 3 lecturers. Block 1
Organic chemistry Assoc. Prof. Mark
Rizzacasa Block 2 Physical chemistry Prof.
Franz Grieser Block 3 Inorganic chemistry Dr
Brendan Abrahams
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Tutorials

• Held in the Learning Lab (chemistry)
• 40 students in a tute divided into groups of 8.
• Two tutors - a subject tutor and a class tutor.
• CAL homework
• (CAL - computer aided learning)

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Tutorials - The Learning Lab
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Practical Course
Chemistry is an experimental science - practical
work is a very important component of a chemistry
course. Groups of 16 students supervised by a
demonstrator. 6 x 3 hour practicals per
semester. The prac report is completed within
the 3 hours. Pre-lab exercises are completed
online (ChemCAL).
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Independent Learning Tasks (101 and 102)
A variety of tasks undertaken by students when
they have a bye in prac. These tasks are
designed develop analytical and research
skills. Completed on-line through the Learning
Management System.
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ChemCAL - Computer Aided Learning
A collection of interactive animations, quizzes
and exercises. ChemCAL provides Online
tutorials Learning Lab homework Online
feedback tests Online prelabs
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Chemistry Learning Centre
The Chemistry Learning Centre provides an
opportunity for 1st year students to ask
questions of lecturers and tutors on a 11 basis.
The learning centre is open from 1-2 pm weekdays
during semester.
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Things you will need
Textbooks 610-171 (Fundamentalsof
Chemistry) Chemistry - Zumdahl and Zumdahl, 7th
Ed. 2007 610-101/610-102 (Chemistry 1 and
2) Chemical Principles - Zumdahl, 5th Ed.
2005 Organic Chemistry - McMurry, 7th Ed.
2008 610-150 (Chemistry for Biomedicine) Organic
Chemistry - McMurry, 7th Ed. 2008
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Things you will need
Practical notes Laboratory coat Safety
glasses/goggles
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What if I fail 101 in first semester?

Students who fail do not get credit for the
subject. They may repeat 101 in semester 2 and
follow this with 102 in the Summer
semester. They can then continue with higher
year chemistry in the next year.
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A Chemistry Major...
The minimum of chemistry points required each
year...

• 1st year

• 2nd year

• 3rd year

• 37.5 points

• 50 points

• 25 points

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What do I do from here?

• Go to Orientation week lecture
• Lectures - start week 1
• Tutorials - start week 1
• Practical Work - see notice boards
• Pick-up handout from Expo (Union)
• Check the LMS and chemistry web sites regularly.
• www.lms.unimelb.edu.au
• www.chemistry.unimelb.edu.au

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Why are we able to store honey and jam in a
cupboard whereas as foods like milk need to be
stored in a refrigerator?
The high concentration of sugar in honey and jam
results in the loss of water through bacteria
cell walls. This causes the bacteria cells to
shrivel up and die. This is an example of
osmosis.
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Enjoy the Year!