english
Year 12 Chemistry 2011
Student Handbook
Table of Contents
Errors 2
Significant Figures 2
States of Matter in Equations 2
Revision Hints 3
Equations 4
VCAA 2008-2011 Key Skills 6
Unit 3 VCAA Study Design 7
Unit 3 Timetable 8
Unit 3 Work Set Questions 10
Unit 4 VCAA Study Design 11
Unit 4 Timetable 12
Unit 4 Work Set Questions 14
ERRORS
When instruments are manufactured, there is a specified uncertainty within which the instrument is designed to deliver accurate results. You do not need to remember the various uncertainties of instruments exactly, however you are required to know the probable range (to within a power of 10) within which an instrument should operate. Typical uncertainties are: pipette ± 0.02 mL burette ± 0.02 mL top loading balances ± 0.005 g
10 mL measuring cylinders ± 0.1 mL
100 mL measuring cylinders ± 1 mL
250 mL standard flasks ± 0.2 mL
Errors in experimental work can be classified in three categories:
Gross Errors or Mistakes
These are due to careless work or apparatus that is temporarily faulty. By being careful and repeating the experiment several times these errors are easily detected and eliminated.
Systematic Errors
These result from an error in the equipment. They can be eliminated by careful calibration of the instrument.
Random Errors
These errors arise from random variations. They cannot be eliminated, but are reduced by repeating the experiment several times and averaging the results.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
All of your numeric answers in the examination must be calculated to the correct number of significant figures. Generally you will lose one mark once only on your paper if your answers are incorrect to more one significant figure. Whilst one mark may not seem especially large, it is easy to express answers correctly.
The following two rules will allow you to determine the correct number of significant figures.
A significant figure is
Student Handbook
Table of Contents
Errors 2
Significant Figures 2
States of Matter in Equations 2
Revision Hints 3
Equations 4
VCAA 2008-2011 Key Skills 6
Unit 3 VCAA Study Design 7
Unit 3 Timetable 8
Unit 3 Work Set Questions 10
Unit 4 VCAA Study Design 11
Unit 4 Timetable 12
Unit 4 Work Set Questions 14
ERRORS
When instruments are manufactured, there is a specified uncertainty within which the instrument is designed to deliver accurate results. You do not need to remember the various uncertainties of instruments exactly, however you are required to know the probable range (to within a power of 10) within which an instrument should operate. Typical uncertainties are: pipette ± 0.02 mL burette ± 0.02 mL top loading balances ± 0.005 g
10 mL measuring cylinders ± 0.1 mL
100 mL measuring cylinders ± 1 mL
250 mL standard flasks ± 0.2 mL
Errors in experimental work can be classified in three categories:
Gross Errors or Mistakes
These are due to careless work or apparatus that is temporarily faulty. By being careful and repeating the experiment several times these errors are easily detected and eliminated.
Systematic Errors
These result from an error in the equipment. They can be eliminated by careful calibration of the instrument.
Random Errors
These errors arise from random variations. They cannot be eliminated, but are reduced by repeating the experiment several times and averaging the results.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
All of your numeric answers in the examination must be calculated to the correct number of significant figures. Generally you will lose one mark once only on your paper if your answers are incorrect to more one significant figure. Whilst one mark may not seem especially large, it is easy to express answers correctly.
The following two rules will allow you to determine the correct number of significant figures.
A significant figure is