CHE1501/101/0/2023

Tutorial Letter 101/0/2023

General Chemistry 1A

CHE1501

Year Module

Department of Chemistry

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please register on myUnisa, activate your myLife e-mail account and
make sure that you have regular access to the myUnisa module
website, CHE1501-2023-0, as well as your group website.

Note: This is a fully online module. It is, therefore, only available on myUnisa.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS

Page

1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 4
2 MODULE OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Purpose .......................................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Outcomes ....................................................................................................................................... 5
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION ............................................................................................ 6
4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS .................................................................................... 6
4.1 Lecturer(s) ...................................................................................................................................... 6
4.2 Department ..................................................................................................................................... 6
4.3 University ........................................................................................................................................ 7
5 RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................. 7
5.1 Prescribed book(s) .......................................................................................................................... 7
5.2 Recommended book(s) .................................................................................................................. 7
5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ..................................................................................................... 8
5.4 Library services and resources ....................................................................................................... 8
6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................. 9
6.1 First-Year Experience Programme ................................................................................................. 10
7. STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 10
8 HOW TO STUDY ONLINE ........................................................................................................... 11
8.1 What does it mean to study fully online? ...................................................................................... 11
9. ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 11
9.1 Assessment criteria ...................................................................................................................... 11
9.2 Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 23
9.3 Assessment due dates ................................................................................................................. 23
9.4 Submission of assessments ......................................................................................................... 23
9.5 The assessments .......................................................................................................................... 25
9.6 Other assessment methods .......................................................................................................... 25
9.7 The examination ........................................................................................................................... 25
9.7.1 Invigilation/proctoring .................................................................................................................... 25
9.8 Supplementary .............................................................................................................................. 26
10. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY .......................................................................................................... 26
10.1 Plagiarism ..................................................................................................................................... 26

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10.2 Cheating ....................................................................................................................................... 26

11. STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES ................................................................................... 27
12. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS .......................................................................................... 27
13. SOURCES CONSULTED ............................................................................................................. 27
14. IN CLOSING ................................................................................................................................. 27
15. ADDENDUM ................................................................................................................................. 27
ANNEXURE: GLOSSARY OF TERM ...................................................................................................... 27

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1 INTRODUCTION
Dear Student

Welcome to the subject General Chemistry 1A. I trust that you will find this module both
stimulating and personally enriching.

Unisa is a comprehensive open distance e-learning (CODeL) higher education institution.

The comprehensiveness of our curricula encapsulates a range of offerings, from strictly
vocational to strictly academic certificates, diplomas and degrees. Unisa's "openness" and its
distance eLearning character result in many students registering at Unisa who may not have
had an opportunity to enrol in higher education. Our CODeL character implies that our
programmes are carefully planned and structured to ensure success for students ranging
from the under-prepared but with potential to the sufficiently prepared.

Teaching and learning in a CODeL context involves multiple modes of delivery ranging from
blended learning to fully online. As a default position, all post graduate programmes are
offered fully online with no printed study materials, while undergraduate programmes are
offered in a blended mode of delivery where printed study materials are augmented with
online teaching and learning via the learner management system – myUnisa. In some
instances, undergraduate programmes are offered fully online as well.

Furthermore, our programmes are aligned with the vision, mission and values of the
University. Unisa's commitment to serve humanity and shape futures combined with a clear
appreciation of our location on the African continent, Unisa's graduates have distinctive
graduate qualities which include

• independent, resilient, responsible and caring citizens who are able to fulfil and serve
in multiple roles in their immediate and future local, national and global communities

• having a critical understanding of their location on the African continent with its
histories, challenges and potential in relation to globally diverse contexts

• the ability to critically analyse and evaluate the credibility and usefulness of
information and data from multiple sources in a globalised world with its ever-
increasing information and data flows and competing worldviews

• how to apply their discipline-specific knowledges competently, ethically and creatively

to solve real-life problems

• an awareness of their own learning and developmental needs and future potential

This module is offered as a blended model.

Whether a module is offered either as blended (meaning that we use a combination of printed
and online material to engage with you) or online (all information is available via the internet),
we use myUnisa as our virtual campus. This is an online system that is used to administer,
document and deliver educational material to you and support engagement with you. Look
out for information from your lecturer as well as other Unisa platforms to determine how to

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 CHE1501/101/0/2023

access the virtual myUnisa module site. Information on the tools that will be available to
engage with the lecturer and fellow students to support your learning will also be
communicated via various platforms.

You are encouraged to log into the module site on myUnisa regularly (that is, at least twice per
week).

The module CHE1501 is a blended module. This means that we will use a combination of
printed and online (which the information will be available via the internet).) In all cases of
online engagement, we use myUnisa as our virtual campus. Visit the website for [CHE1501]
on myUnisa frequently. The website for your module is CHE1501-23-Y.

We wish you every success with your studies!

2 MODULE OVERVIEW
2.1 Purpose

The purpose of this module is to enable the student to demonstrate a basic understanding of
classification and properties of matter and atomic theories, atomic structure and quantum
numbers, the periodic table and periodicity, chemical bonding, the structure and nomenclature
of inorganic compounds and ions, the mole concept and stoichiometry, solutions and
concentrations, acids and bases, types of chemical reactions and introduction to rates of
reactions and chemical equilibrium.

2.2 Outcomes

For this module, you will have to master several outcomes:

Specific outcome 1:
Explain and apply principles related to the foundations of chemistry, atomic structure, and the
periodic table.

Specific outcome 2:
Explain and apply basic principles of Quantum Chemistry and Periodicity.

Specific outcome 3:
Apply Chemical bonding and bonding theories.

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Specific outcome 4:
Analyze, compare, and balance different types of chemical reactions.

Specific outcome 5:
Apply principles of stoichiometry and the mole concept.

Specific outcome 6:
Define and calculate various expressions of concentrations.

Specific outcome 7:
Explain and apply basic chemical equilibrium concepts.

Specific outcome 8:
Define and evaluate the gaseous state and the Gas Laws.

3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION
Unisa has implemented a transformation charter, in terms of which the university has placed
curriculum transformation high on the teaching and learning agenda. Curriculum transformation
includes student-centred scholarship, the pedagogical renewal of teaching and assessment
practices, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and the infusion of African epistemologies
and philosophies. All of these will be phased in at both programme and module levels, and as a
result of this you will notice a marked change in the teaching and learning strategy implemented
by Unisa, together with the way in which the content is conceptualised in your modules. We
encourage you to embrace these changes during your studies at Unisa in a responsive way
within the framework of transformation.

4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

4.1 Lecturer(s)

The primary lecturer for this module is Dr. M E Aphane

Department: Chemistry
Telephone: 0116709311
E-mail: Aphanme@unisa.ac.za

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4.2 Department

You can contact the Department of Chemistry as follows:

Telephone number: (011) 670-9318 or (011) 670-9327

E-mail: chemistry@unisa.ac.za

4.3 University

Contact addresses of the various administrative departments appear on the Unisa website:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Contact-us/Student-enquiries.

Please include the student number in all correspondence.

5 RESOURCES
5.1 Prescribed book(s)

READ THIS ENTIRE SECTION CAREFULLY FOR THE PRESCRIBED BOOK USED FOR
CHE1501

TITLE OF THE BOOK: CHEMISTRY 2e

SENIOR CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS:
PAUL FLOWERS, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT PEMBROKE
KLAUS THEOPOLD, UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
RICHARD LANGLEY, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
WILLIAM R. ROBINSON, PHD

Published: 2019
Edition: Second edition
Publisher: OpenStax
ISBN: 978-1-947172-61-6

The University does not provide printed copies of this book. HOWEVER, this book is made
available and can be downloaded free of charge from the following website
https://openstax.org: (then go to ‘Subjects’ then ‘Science’, next ‘chemistry’ to access this 2nd
edition of chemistry book.) or proceed via https://openstax.org/details/books/chemistry-2e.
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The above-mentioned textbook may be downloaded using Google Chrome.

Students are expected to obtain their own copies by downloading or printing the ebook. As most
of the study material for this module is included in this book, it is essential to have access to a
copy. Arrangements must therefore be made immediately to obtain a copy. The link to the
book will also be made available on myUnisa under additional study material.

5.2 Recommended book(s)

If you feel that you need an additional textbook to help you understand the work better, a
recommended textbook is:
Chemistry: The Central Science, 14th Edition

Authors: Theodore E. Brown; H. Eugene H LeMay; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine Murphy;

Patrick Woodward.

You may also consult any other ‘General Chemistry’ textbook.

Note that the recommended book covers the same concepts and topics as the prescribed book
and is not compulsory. Some students simply prefer a different author’s style to the prescribed
book, and some topics are explained in a different way which may aid your understanding.
Recommended books can be requested online, via the Library catalogue.
Recommended books can be requested online, via the Library catalogue.

5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)

There are no e-Reserves for this module.

5.4 Library services and resources

The Unisa library offers a range of information services and resources:

• For brief information, go to https://www.unisa.ac.za/library/libatglance

• For more detailed library information, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
• For research support and services (e.g. the services offered by personal librarians and
the request a literature search service offered by the information search librarians), go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Research-support
• For library training for undergraduate students, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Training

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The library has created numerous library guides, available at http://libguides.unisa.ac.za.

Recommended guides:

• Request and find library material/download recommended material:

http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
• Postgraduate information services: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
• Finding and using library resources and tools:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
• Frequently asked questions about the library:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Services to students living with disabilities:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability
• A–Z of library databases:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/az.php

Important contact information:

• Ask a librarian: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Technical problems encountered in accessing library online services: Lib-
help@unisa.ac.za
• General library-related queries: Library-enquiries@unisa.ac.za
• Queries related to library fines and payments: Library-fines@unisa.ac.za
• Social media channels: Facebook: UnisaLibrary and Twitter: @UnisaLibrary

6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The Study @ Unisa brochure is available on myUnisa: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies

This brochure contains important information and guidelines for successful studies through
Unisa. If you need assistance with regard to the myModules system, you are welcome to use
the following contact details:

• Toll-free landline: 0800 00 1870 (Select option 07 for myModules)

• E-mail: mymodules22@unisa.ac.za or myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za

You can access and view short videos on topics such as how to view your calendar, how to
access module content, how to view announcements for modules, how to submit assessment
and how to participate in forum activities via the following link: https://dtls-
qa.unisa.ac.za/course/view.php?id=32130

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Registered Unisa students get a free myLife e-mail account. Important information, notices
and updates are sent exclusively to this account. Please note that it can take up to 24 hours
for your account to be activated after you have claimed it. Please do this immediately after
registering at Unisa, by following this link: myLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za

Your myLife account is the only e-mail account recognised by Unisa for official
correspondence with the university, and will remain the official primary e-mail address on
record at Unisa. You remain responsible for the management of this e-mail account.

6.1 First-Year Experience Programme

Many students find the transition from school education to tertiary education stressful. This is also true in
the case of students enrolling at Unisa for the first time. Unisa is a dedicated open distance and e-
learning institution, and it is very different from face-to-face/contact institutions. It is a mega university,
and all our programmes are offered through either blended learning or fully online learning. It is for this
reason that we thought it necessary to offer first-time students additional/extended support to help them
seamlessly navigate the Unisa teaching and learning journey with little difficulty and few barriers. We
therefore offer a specialised student support programme to students enrolling at Unisa for the first time –
this is Unisa’s First-Year Experience (FYE) Programme, designed to provide you with prompt and helpful
information about services that the institution offers and how you can access information. The following
FYE services are currently offered:
• FYE website: All the guides and resources you need in order to navigate through your
first year at Unisa can be accessed using the following link: www.unisa.ac.za/FYE

• FYE e-mails: You will receive regular e-mails to help you stay focused and motivated.

• FYE broadcasts: You will receive e-mails with links to broadcasts on various topics
related to your first-year studies (e.g. videos on how to submit assessments online).

• FYE mailbox: For assistance with queries related to your first year of study, send an e-
mail to fye@unisa.ac.za .

7. STUDY PLAN
Assignment 1 is a multiple-choice assignment and is based on study units 1, 2 & 3 of the
study guide. This corresponds to chapters (1, 2, 6 & 7) of the prescribed textbook: Chemistry
2e.

Assignment 2 is a multiple-choice assignment and is based on study units 4, 5 & 6 of the

study guide. This corresponds to chapters (3 & 4) of the prescribed textbook: Chemistry 2e.

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Assignment 3 is a multiple-choice assignment and is based on study units 6, 8 & 11 of the

study guide. This corresponds to chapters (13 & 9) of the prescribed textbook: Chemistry 2e.
Study units 7 (Introductory kinetics), 9 (Acid-base equilibria) and 10 (Introductory
thermochemistry) of the study guide are not part of the CHE1501 syllabus.

NOTE BELOW:
Please note that to qualify to be admitted to the final Examination, you need to obtain a
minimum of a 40% assessment mark, which is calculated as the average of the best two
assignments marks out of 3 assignments submitted. Submission of any of the assignment as a
requirement to be admitted to the exam, DOES NO LONGER apply for CHE1501 module.

8 HOW TO STUDY ONLINE

8.1 What does it mean to study fully online?

Online learning is when you take courses online instead of in a physical classroom. In the online
environment all the assignments will only be available for you to submit online. For this module
you will need to submit three assessments online.

9. ASSESSMENT
9.1 Assessment criteria

This section contains important information regarding the CHE1501 syllabus and examination:

The following tutorial letter details the complete syllabus for CHE1501 and what you need to do
in order to ace the examination.

The textbook should be your primary study material. The syllabus, which must be studied, is
detailed below. This tutorial letter will guide you as to what depth you must learn the content
in the textbook for the examination. I have developed a comprehensive checklist for each
study unit below. If you understand all your assignment questions and answers, and you can
say ‘yes’ to, and answer all the questions in the checklists below (and learn the given equations),
and you should be able to get very high marks in the exam.

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To prepare for the exam, you should start with the checklists, and then read in the textbook all
that is necessary to answer the questions. i.e., to make sure that you understand the concepts.

The study guide is not the primary source of study material. It was written mainly to simplify
topics in the textbooks which students often have trouble understanding. It is therefore not
designed to be a repetition of the textbook and does not cover all the material in the course. The
textbook and this tutorial letter should be your primary guide to your studies, and the study
guide should be considered an additional helpful resource. Topics in the study guide which are
not listed in the checklist below will not be directly examined (although it may be necessary to
understand these topics in order to answer questions in other study units). Use this tutorial
letter and the checklist below as the definitive guide as to what is or is not examinable. If
you have trouble with the textbook, then consult the relevant section in the study guide.

I did not give out specific page numbers or textbook sections to study because every student’s
chemistry background may be different, and for a student with little or no knowledge of chemistry,
it may be necessary to read a much larger section of the textbook in order to understand a topic
than a student with a solid background.

Finally, you should continually keep an eye on myUnisa for further study material, especially
closer to exam time, as I may be posting further material, such as a sample examination paper,
or a last-minute exam preparation tutorial letter before the exam.

Specific Outcomes and assessment criteria

Specific outcome 1:
Explain and apply principles related to the foundations of chemistry, atomic structure and the
periodic table.

Assessment criteria
1.1 Development of the structure of the atom is correctly described.
1.2 Basic concepts of matter are correctly explained and applied.
1.3 Atomic theories and knowledge of the structure of the atom are applied.
1.4 Isotopes are explained, and average atomic mass is described.
1.5 Basic concepts of the periodic table are correctly explained.

Specific outcome 2:
Explain and apply basic principles of Quantum Chemistry and Periodicity.

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Assessment criteria
2.1 Quantum numbers are correctly related to atomic orbitals.
2.2 Trends in atomic radii, electronegativity, ionization energy and electron affinity down the
group and across the period are compared.
2.3 Electron configurations in the Periodic Table are compared with the noble gas
configuration.
2.4 Nuclear charge and effective nuclear charge are determined.
2.5 Valence bond theory and the octet rule are correctly explained.

Specific outcome 3:
Apply chemical bonding and bonding theories.

Assessment criteria
3.1 Core and valence electrons are distinguished.
3.2 Different types of bonds are distinguished
3.3 Covalent and ionic bond formation and breakage are correctly illustrated
using arrow formalism.
3.4 Formulas and nomenclature of chemical compounds are correctly provided.
3.5 The VSEPR model is applied to determine the molecular structure and geometry of
molecules.
3.6 Formal charges are explained and applied to bonding.
3.7 Lewis structures for molecules are constructed.
3.8 Resonance structures are illustrated and applied.

Specific outcome 4:
Analyse, compare, and balance different types of chemical reactions.

Assessment criteria
4.1 Types of chemical reactions are predicted.
Range: Chemical reactions include synthesis, decomposition, combustion,
displacement, precipitation and redox reactions.
4.2 Arrhenius, Bronsted , Lowr y -Bronsted and Lewis acid -base t heor ies ar e
descr ibe d wit h examples.
4.3 Heterogeneous equilibrium: solubility products and Ksp are discussed and calculated
4.4 Solubility guidelines are applied.

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4.5 The different types of chemical reactions are balanced.
4.6 Endothermic versus exothermic reactions are defined and compared.
4.7 Oxidation and reduction is explained and applied to balance Redox reactions.

Specific outcome 5:
Apply principles of stoichiometry and the mole concept.

Assessment criteria
5.1 The percentage composition of an element in a compound is accurately calculated.
5.2 The mole concept together with Avogadro’s number is applied.
5.3 Both empirical and molecular formulae are determined.
5.4 Limiting reagents and percentage yields are accurately calculated.

Specific outcome 6:
Define and calculate various expressions of concentrations.

Assessment criteria
6.1 Various expressions of concentrations are defined and accurately calculated.
Range: Expressions include mass percentage, ppm & ppb, mole fraction, molarity,
and molality.
6.2 An accurate dilute solution concentration is calculated from a concentrated solution.

Specific outcome 7:
Explain and apply basic chemical equilibrium concepts.

Assessment criteria
7.1 Necessary conditions for reactions to occur are identified.
7.2 Factors that affect reaction rates are correctly explained
7.3 The concept of chemical equilibrium and the equilibrium constant are correctly
7.4 Le Chatelier’s principle is correctly explained and applied
7.5 Equilibrium constants are accurately calculated and interpreted.

Specific outcome 8:
Define and evaluate the gaseous state and the Gas Laws.

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Assessment criteria
8.1 Fundamental physical properties of gases are evaluated.
Range: Physical properties include pressure, volume, temperature and amounts.
8.2 Properties of gases are correctly calculated using the ideal gas law.
8.3 Standard temperature and pressure are defined.
8.4 The relationship between mole, mass, volume, temperature, pressure, and density
of gases is explained and/or calculated.
8.5 Partial pressures are accurately calculated.

Checklists
Study Unit 1 – Review of chemical foundations

Checklist:
Can you distinguish between atoms, elements and molecules? Can you explain what is meant
by pure substances, and distinguish between elements, compounds and mixtures?
Do you know the difference between homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures?
Do you understand the properties of the three different states of matter (gases, liquids and
solids)? Do you know how to use scientific notation and SI units?

Can you calculate the density of a substance?

Can you explain uncertainty in measurement in terms of accuracy and precision and explain
how significant figures are used to report this uncertainty in calculations?
Do you know understand what is meant by the terms atomic number, mass number, isotope,
element and ion?
Can you write nuclide symbols for ions, and determine how many protons, neutrons and
electrons are in any given element, isotope or ion?
Do you understand the concept of average atomic mass and can you calculate average atomic
masses and relative abundance of isotopes?
Can you name and write formulas for simple molecular and ionic compounds?

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 Study Unit 2 – Quantum mechanics and periodicity

Equations you should learn:

None

Checklist:
Can you draw the orbital diagram of any given atom and determine the number of paired and
unpaired electrons from the diagram?
Can you write electron configurations for atoms or ions?
Can you determine whether an atom or ion is diamagnetic or paramagnetic?
Do you understand the term ‘isoelectronic’?
Can you classify elements as metals, non-metals or metalloids based on their position on the
periodic table, and explain what is meant by each of these classifications?
Can you predict trends in atomic radii, electronegativity, ionization energy and electron affinity?
Can you distinguish between orbits and orbitals?
Can you name the classes and characteristics of groups on the periodic table (ie. alkali metals,
halogens etc.)?
Can you draw and identify the characteristic shapes for s and p orbitals?
Can you define the quantum numbers and relate them to the position of an electron? Can you
determine if a given set of quantum numbers is valid or not?
Do you know what is meant by valence and core electrons?
Do you know the relationship of valence electrons to the position of the elements in the periodic
table? Do you understand what is meant by effective nuclear charge?

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Study Unit 3 – Chemical bonding and bonding theories

Equations you should learn:

None

Checklist:
Do you know the difference between ionic, polar-covalent, non-polar covalent, coordination (or
dative covalent) bonds and hydrogen bonds? Can you predict when each type will occur in
bonding and identify these bond types in any given molecule?
Do you understand valence electrons and the octet rule, and can you determine how many
valence electrons there are in any given molecule?
Can you explain what is meant by electronegativity? Can you draw the Lewis structure of a
given molecule? Can you determine the formal charge of an atom?
Do you know the basic molecular shapes? Can you use VSEPR theory to predict the molecular
geometry of a molecule?
Can you explain what is meant by bond polarity and dipole moment and identify these in a given
molecule?
Do you understand the properties of polar and non-polar solvents and the concept of 'like
dissolves like.' Can you predict the products in simple ionic/covalent reactions and write
balanced equations for these reactions?
Do you understand what is meant by hybrid orbitals, and can you predict the hybridization of the
orbitals in a given molecule?

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 Study unit 4 – Types of Chemical Reactions

Equations you should learn:

None

Checklist:
Can you describe the common characteristics of chemical reactions such as combination,
combustion, decomposition, displacement, precipitation, neutralization, acid-base and redox
reactions? Given a reaction, can you determine the type?
Do you know the rules for determining oxidation numbers, and can you apply them to determine
the oxidation number of every atom in an ion or molecule?
Do you understand what is meant by oxidation and reduction?
Can you identify the oxidizing agent and reducing reagent in a redox reaction? Can you predict
the products of oxidation?
Can you balance redox reactions in acidic and basic mediums?
Can you explain what is meant by an endothermic and an exothermic reaction? Do you know
and understand the solubility guidelines for ionic compounds?

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Study Unit 5 – Stoichiometry

Checklist:
Can you balance a reaction?
Can you calculate the mass percentage of an element in a compound?
Can you interconvert grams, moles and number of molecules using molar masses and
Avogadro’s number?
Do you understand empirical and molecular formulae?
Can you calculate the empirical and molecular formula of a compound from percentage
composition and molecular mass?
Can you determine the limiting reagent of a reaction?
Can you calculate the amount of reactants or products in a reaction?
Do you know the difference between theoretical yield and actual yield, and can you calculate
the percentage yield of a reaction?

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 Study Unit 6 – Solutions and expressions of concentrations

Checklist:
Can you define, calculate and express concentrations in terms of molarity, molality, mole
fraction, percentage composition, ppm and ppb and interconvert between them? Do you know
when it is appropriate to use each term?
Do you understand the difference between molarity and normality?
Do you understand how to carry out a dilution to achieve a desired solution concentration?

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Study Unit 8 – Chemical equilibrium

Equations you should learn:

Rate = -Δ[A]/Δt Kc = [C]c[D]d / [A]a[B]b

Checklist:

Do you know which factors affect the rate and the rate constant in chemical reactions? Can you
determine the rate of a chemical reaction given times and concentrations?
Do you understand why rusting occurs and why salt and acid solutions increase the rate of
rusting?
Do you understand what is meant by chemical equilibrium and how it relates to reaction rates?
Can you derive the equilibrium constant expression from the reaction rates?
Can you write the equilibrium constant expression for any reaction?
Do you understand the significance of the value of the equilibrium constant and how it relates to
the amounts of reactants and products in the equilibrium mixture?
Can you write the equilibrium constant expression for a heterogeneous equilibrium? Can you
calculate Kc from concentration measurements?
Do you understand how changing the concentrations, volume, pressure, or temperature of a
system at equilibrium affects the equilibrium position? (Le Chatelier's Principle).

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 Study Unit 11 – Gases

Equations you should learn:

PV = nRT V α (1/P) VαT VαN

ρ = (PM)/(RT) Px = Χx(PTotal) PTotal = P1 + P2 + …

Checklist:
Do you know the conditions corresponding to STP?
Can you derive relations between sets of initial and final conditions from the ideal gas law? Can
you convert between atm, Torr, kPa and bar; L, mL and dm3; and °C and K
Can you calculate P, V, n or T using the ideal gas equation? Do you know which units to use in
PV=nRT calculations?
Do you know which value of R to use?
Can you calculate the partial pressure of a gas, or the total pressure if you are given the partial
pressures?
Do you understand how Partial pressures, Daltons’s law and mole fraction are related?
Can you calculate the density or molar mass of a gas?
Do you know what is meant by ideal behaviour? Do you know the difference between ideal and
real gases, and under which conditions a gas will imitate ideal behaviour?

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9.2 Assessment plan

• To complete this module, you will be required to submit 3 assessments.

• All information about when and where to submit your assessments will be made available
to you via the myModules site for your module.

• Due dates for assessments, as well as the actual assessments are available on the
myModules site for this module.

• To gain admission to the examination, you will be required to submit 3 assignment/s.

• Your assignments will comprise a Multiple-Choice Assignments (MCQs).

• You need to obtain a year mark average of 40% for the assignment/s to gain admission
to the examination, which is calculated as the average of the best two assignments
marks out of 3 assignments submitted.

• The assignment weighting for the module is 33% for assignment 01, 33% for assignment
02, and 34% for assignment 03. This Year mark will count for 20 % of the final mark for
the examination.

• You will receive examination information via the myModules sites. Please watch out for
announcements on how examinations for the modules for which you are registered will
be conducted.

• The examination will count 80% towards the final module mark.

9.3 Assessment due dates

• There are no assignment due dates included in this tutorial letter. In addition, the
assignment questions will also be made available on myunisa, and in a follow up tutorial
letter 102, which will also be available under additional resources on myunisa.

• Assignment due dates will be made available to you on the myUnisa landing page for this
module. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon registration.

• Please start working on your assessments as soon as you register for the module.

• Log on to the myUnisa site for this module to obtain more information on the due dates
for the submission of the assessments.

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9.4 Submission of assessments

• Unisa, as a comprehensive open distance e-learning institution (CODeL), is moving

towards becoming an online institution. You will therefore see that all your study material,
assessments and engagements with your lecturer and fellow students will take place
online. We use myUnisa as our virtual campus.

• The myUnisa virtual campus will offer students access to the myModules site, where
learning material will be available online and where assessments should be completed.
This is an online system that is used to administer, document, and deliver educational
material to students and support engagement between academics and students.

• The myUnisa platform can be accessed via https://my.unisa.ac.za. Click on the

myModules 2023 button to access the online sites for the modules that you are
registered for.

• The university undertakes to communicate clearly and as frequently as is necessary to

ensure that you obtain the greatest benefit from the use of the myModules learning
management system. Please access the announcements on your myModules site
regularly, as this is where your lecturer will post important information to be shared with
you.

• When you access your myModules site for the module/s you are registered for, you will
see a welcome message posted by your lecturer. Below the welcome message you will
see the assessment shells for the assessments that you need to complete. Some
assessments may be multiple choice, some tests, others written assessments, some
forum discussions, and so on. All assessments must be completed on the assessment
shells available on the respective module platforms.

• To complete quiz assessments, please log on to the module site where you need to
complete the assessment. Click on the relevant assessment shell (Assessment 1,
Assessment 2, etc.). There will be a date on which the assessment will open for you.
When the assessment is open, access the quiz online and complete it within the time
available to you. Quiz assessment questions are not included in this tutorial letter
(Tutorial Letter 101) and are only made available online. You must therefore access the
quiz online and complete it online where the quiz has been created.

• It is not advisable to use a cell phone to complete the quiz. Please use a desktop
computer, tablet or laptop when completing the quiz. Students who use a cell phone find
it difficult to navigate the Online Assessment tool on the small screen and often struggle
to navigate between questions and successfully complete the quizzes. In addition, cell
phones are more vulnerable to dropped internet connections than other devices. If at all
possible, please do not use a cell phone for this assessment type.

• For written assessments, please note the due date by which the assessment must be
submitted. Ensure that you follow the guidelines given by your lecturer to complete the
assessment. Click on the submission button on the relevant assessment shell on
myModules. You will then be able to upload your written assessment on the myModules

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site of the modules that you are registered for. Before you finalise the upload, double
check that you have selected the correct file for upload. Remember, no marks can be
allocated for incorrectly submitted assessments.

9.5 The assessments

As indicated in section 9.2, you need to complete 3 assessments for this module

There are no assignments included in this tutorial letter. Assignments and due dates will be
made available to you on myModules for this module. We envisage that the due dates will be
available to you upon registration.

9.6 Other assessment methods

There are no other assessment methods for this module.

9.7 The examination

Examination information and details on the format of the examination will be made available to
you online via the myUnisa site. Look out for information that will be shared with you by your
lecturer and e-tutors (where relevant) and for communication from the university.

9.7.1 Invigilation/proctoring

Since 2020 Unisa conducts all its assessments online. Given stringent requirements from
professional bodies and increased solicitations of Unisa’s students by third parties to unlawfully
assist them with the completion of assignments and examinations, the University is obliged to
assure its assessment integrity through the utilisation of various proctoring tools: Turnitin,
Moodle Proctoring, the Invigilator App and IRIS. These tools will authenticate the student’s
identity and flag suspicious behaviour to assure credibility of students’ responses during
assessments. The description below is for your benefit as you may encounter any or all of these
in your registered modules:

Turnitin is a plagiarism software that facilitates checks for originality in students’ submissions
against internal and external sources. Turnitin assists in identifying academic fraud and ghost
writing. Students are expected to submit typed responses for utilisation of the Turnitin software.

The Moodle Proctoring tool is a facial recognition software that authenticates students’ identity
during their Quiz assessments. This tool requires access to a student’s mobile or laptop
camera. Students must ensure their camera is activated in their browser settings prior to their
assessments.

The Invigilator “mobile application-based service does verification” of the identity of an

assessment participant. The Invigilator Mobile Application detects student dishonesty-by-proxy
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and ensures that the assessment participant is the registered student. This invigilation tool
requires students to download the app from their Play Store (Google, Huawei and Apple) on
their mobile devices (camera enabled) prior to their assessment.

IRIS Invigilation software verifies the identity of a student during assessment and provides for
both manual and automated facial verification. It has the ability to record and review a student’s
assessment session. It flags suspicious behaviour by the students for review by an academic
administrator. IRIS software requires installation on students’ laptop devices that are enabled
with a webcam.

Students who are identified and flagged for suspicious dishonest behaviour arising from the
invigilation and proctoring reports are referred to the disciplinary office for formal proceeding.

Please note:

Students must refer to their module assessment information on their myModule sites to
determine which proctoring or invigilation tool will be utilised for their formative and summative
assessments.

9.8 Supplementary
This module is offered in a year period. This means that if you are registered for the current
year, you will write the examination in October/November period and for qualifying students,
the supplementary examination will be written in January /February period of the following year.

10. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

10.1 Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as
your own. It is a form of theft. Plagiarism includes the following forms of academic dishonesty:

• Copying and pasting from any source without acknowledging the source.
• Not including references or deliberately inserting incorrect bibliographic information.
• Paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source of the information.

10.2 Cheating
Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Completing assessments on behalf of another student, copying the work of another

student during an assessment, or allowing another student to copy your work.
• Using social media (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram) or other platforms to disseminate
assessment information.
• Submitting corrupt or irrelevant files, this forms part of examination guidelines
• Buying completed answers from so-called “tutors” or internet sites (contract cheating).

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• For more information about plagiarism, follow the link below:

https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules

11. STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES

The Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities (ARCSWiD) provides an
opportunity for staff to interact with first-time and returning students with disabilities.

If you are a student with a disability and would like additional support or need additional time for
assessments, you are invited to contact (name and e-mail address of the lecturer must be
inserted) to discuss the assistance that you need.

12. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Study @ Unisa brochure contains an A-Z guide of the most relevant study information.
Please refer to this brochure for any other questions.

13. SOURCES CONSULTED

CHEMISTRY 2e, Published: 2019
Edition: Second edition
Chemistry: The Central Science, 14th Edition

14. IN CLOSING
I hope that you will enjoy this module and we wish you success with your studies.
Dr M. E. Aphane.

15. ADDENDUM
None.

ANNEXURE: GLOSSARY OF TERM

©
Unisa 2023
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