Chemistry UNIT 2: Analytical analysis of environmental water samples

In this area of study students will analyse environmental water samples to determine presence of any salt or organic compound contaminants. They will use a range of analytical techniques and instrumentation to identify and quantitate the contaminant compounds. 

Introduction

In this program students will learn the principles and applications of using analytical techniques and instrumentation to analyse environmental water samples to determine the presence of any salt or organic compound contaminants.  They will use techniques and instrumentation such as colorimetry with UV-visible spectroscopy, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to identify any salt or organic compound contaminants and determine their concentration in solution.  

Program Overview

Students will analyse environmental water samples looking for possible contaminant compounds from local mining and pharmaceutical companies. They will explore the application of acid-base and redox reactions in identifying if acid mine drainage from the local mining process is impacting the local water ways. They will further use AAS to identify any metal ion contaminants and colorimetry with UV-visible spectroscopy to construct a calibration curve which they will then use to determine the concentration of the metal contaminant. Using IR, they will then analyse the environmental water samples to identify any possible organic contaminants attributed to the pharmaceutical companies. Students will then prepare a set of standard solutions over a concentration range and analyse them using HPLC. They will construct a calibration curve which they will then use to determine the concentration of the organic contaminant. 

Curriculum Focus

VCE Chemistry Unit 2 – AOS 1: Outcome 1- How do chemicals interact with water? 

This program will address the analysis of environmental water samples for salts and organic compounds by covering the following study design dot points: 

• neutralisation reactions to produce salts: 
• reactions of acids with metals, carbonates and hydroxides, including balanced full and ionic equations, with states 
• accuracy and precision in measurement as illustrated by the comparison of natural indicators, commercial indicators, and pH meters to determine the relative strengths of acidic and basic solutions 
• applications of acid-base reactions in society 
• oxidising and reducing agents, and redox reactions, including writing of balanced half and overall redox equations (including in acidic conditions), with states 
• applications of redox reactions in society 

VCE Chemistry Unit 2 – AOS 2: Outcome 2- How are chemicals measured and analysed? 

This program will address the analysis of environmental water samples for salts and organic compounds by covering the following study design dot points:  

• solution concentration as a measure of the quantity of solute dissolved in a given mass or volume of solution (mol L-1, g L-1, %(m/v), %(v/v), ppm), including unit conversions 
• volume-volume stoichiometry (solutions only) and application of volumetric analysis, including the use of indicators, calculations related to the preparation of standard solutions, dilution of solutions, and use of acid-base titrations (excluding back titrations) to determine the concentration of an acid or a base in a water sample  
• sources of salts found in water or soil (which may include minerals, heavy metals, organo-metallic substances)  
• quantitative analysis of salts: 
• the application of colorimetry and/or UV-visible spectroscopy, including the use of a calibration curve to determine the concentration of ions or complexes in a water or soil sample