11–12Chemistry 11–12 Syllabus (2025)

Record of changes

Implementation from 2028

Expand for detailed implementation advice

Overview Rationale Aim Outcomes Content Assessment Glossary Teaching and learning support

Content

Year 11

Year 12

View Life Skills

Teaching advice

Examples

Equilibrium

CH-12-01
explains the characteristics and factors that affect equilibrium systems

Related Life Skills content for Stage 6

Reversible reactions

Equilibrium

Relevant Working scientifically outcomes and content must be integrated with each focus area. All the Working scientifically outcomes and content must be addressed by the end of Year 12.

Dynamic equilibrium

Account for the characteristics of a dynamic equilibrium system using collision theory
Explain why macroscopic properties remain constant at equilibrium
Conduct a laboratory experiment to demonstrate the reversibility of a chemical reaction
Conduct a practical investigation to model a dynamic equilibrium system
Discuss the impact of a closed system on dynamic equilibrium

Factors that affect equilibrium

Use Le Chatelier’s principle to predict the effects of temperature, concentration, volume and pressure changes on equilibrium systems
Conduct a practical investigation to analyse the effects of temperature and concentration changes on a system at equilibrium
Use collision theory to explain the effects of concentration and temperature changes on equilibrium systems using qualitative data
Use collision theory to explain the effect of pressure changes on gaseous equilibrium systems using qualitative data
Conduct a practical investigation to analyse pressure and volume changes in a gaseous system at equilibrium
Use Le Chatelier’s principle and collision theory to address real-world applications involving equilibrium systems
Justify methods associated with temperature, concentration and pressure that are used to increase yield in chemical equilibria
Conduct a secondary-source investigation to analyse the manipulation of reaction conditions to ensure economical production of an industrial chemical

Calculating the equilibrium constant

Determine equilibrium expressions in terms of the equilibrium constant ( $K_{eq}$ ) for reactions occurring in homogeneous solution equilibrium systems and homogeneous gas equilibrium systems
Perform calculations to find the value of $K_{eq}$ and concentrations of substances within an equilibrium system, and use these values to predict the direction of a reaction
Calculate the reaction quotient ( $Q$ ) using concentrations of substances in chemical systems, and use these values to determine if a system is at equilibrium
Analyse the effect of temperature on the value of $K_{eq}$ using qualitative data
Conduct a practical investigation to determine $K_{eq}$ of the iron(III) thiocyanate equilibrium system
Solve equilibrium system problems using $K_{eq}$ , $\frac{1}{K_{eq}}$ and $Q$

Solution equilibria

Use diagrams to model the processes by which bonds break and form during the dissolution of ionic compounds in water
Conduct a laboratory experiment to construct a set of solubility rules for the cations barium ( ${Ba}^{2 +}$ ), calcium ( ${Ca}^{2 +}$ ), silver ( ${Ag}^{+}$ ), copper(II) ( ${Cu}^{2 +}$ ), iron(II) ( ${Fe}^{2 +}$ ) and iron(III) ( ${Fe}^{3 +}$ )
Conduct a laboratory experiment to construct a set of solubility rules for the anions chloride ( ${Cl}^{-}$ ), bromide ( ${Br}^{-}$ ), iodide ( $I^{-}$ ), hydroxide ( ${OH}^{-}$ ), acetate ( ${CH}_{3} {COO}^{-}$ ), carbonate ( ${CO}_{3} ⁠^{2 -}$ ), sulfate ( ${SO}_{4} ⁠^{2 -}$ ) and phosphate ( ${PO}_{4} ⁠^{3 -}$ )
Use secondary sources to assess the accuracy of the solubility rules derived in the solubility experiments
Conduct a scientific investigation applying known solubility rules and identify 2 unknown ions in the resulting solution
Derive equilibrium expressions for saturated solutions in terms of $K_{sp}$
Use the $K_{sp}$ value of ionic substances to determine their solubility in g L^-1and mol L^-1
Predict the formation of a precipitate given the standard reference values for $K_{sp}$
Solve problems using $K_{sp}$ solubility and equilibrium concentration data in equilibrium systems
Conduct a secondary-source investigation to analyse the use of solubility equilibria to monitor the presence of lead ( ${Pb}^{2 +}$ ) and phosphate ( ${PO}_{4} ⁠^{3 -}$ ) ions in the environment

Related files

Life Skills

Welcome to the NSW Curriculum website

11–12Chemistry 11–12 Syllabus (2025)

Content