By applying scientific concepts, principles and models it is possible to make a vast range of chemical compounds, formulations and materials that affect the quality of our lives. The design and manufacture of new molecular compounds and materials will contribute to all of the challenges concerning humanity’s continued development.
New molecular compounds and materials are designed and produced by preparative or synthetic chemists, formulation chemists, materials scientists and technologists, metallurgists, biologists and analytical scientists. Places of work include research and development (R&D) departments, manufacturing plants and analytical, materials testing and quality control laboratories.
The purpose of this topic is for learners to devise and follow processes to make products with particular characteristics. These products could be molecular compounds or new/modified materials. Learners will gain an understanding of the relationship between the structure and bonding of molecular compounds and their properties (biological, chemical and physical). Learners will then be able to determine physical properties of materials, and relate them to potential uses. They will also have an opportunity to consider the ethics surrounding the development and introduction of new materials.
This topic could provide an opportunity for learners to work in teams.
This topic links to 3.3.
Learners must know and understand:
1. the classification of organic compounds and functional groups (including aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids, esters, aldehydes, ketones, amines, amides and halogenocompounds), chemical formulae (empirical, molecular, structural and displayed) and types of chemical reaction and reaction types (including addition, elimination, substitution, oxidation and reduction)
2. structures of molecular compounds, polymers, metals and ceramics
3. types of bonding including molecular shapes and crystal structures, and models of ionic, covalent and metallic bonding
4. how the design and effectiveness of new compounds and materials are influenced by the relationship between physical and chemical properties, intended uses of compounds and materials, structures of compounds and materials, and bonding of compounds and materials
5. enthalpy changes, reaction kinetics and dynamic equilibrium including factors that affect reaction rates and yield of products
6. techniques for synthesising molecular compounds, including separation, purification, determination of yield and analysis to determine purity
7. how to calculate theoretical and percentage yield and purity using amount of substance, and the mole
8. how physical properties of materials in the laboratory are determined, including practical testing, reference to secondary source databases and calculations
9. how to interpret information provided by techniques used to investigate the structure of a compound or material, including mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography
10. techniques used in the context of molecular synthesis to increase the sustainable use of resources, manage waste and recycle materials including green chemistry and atom economy
11. economic and environmental considerations in the production, preparation or modification of a compound or material, including waste management.
Learners must be able to:
1. use sources of information to establish the relationship between properties, uses and structure of a product
2. propose a synthetic route for a product based on information about structure, properties and use
3. review a proposed synthetic route to determine its validity in synthesising a product
4. synthesise and purify a product
5. evaluate the effectiveness of the synthesis process.
In order to engage with this topic effectively, learners must use the following PLTS:
- independent enquirers
- self-managers
- reflective learners.
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