Record of changes for Chemistry

All changes made to the Chemistry syllabus are recorded here. Learn about these updates.

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About the record of changes

This record details amendments to the syllabus, school-based assessment and exams for the course.

Changes are also communicated via NESA official notices or news items in NESA News.

1 September 2023

Official Notice: Amended performance band descriptors for HSC Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Investigating Science, and Physics (2017)

(Official Notice NESA 16/23)

Amended performance band descriptors are now available for Stage 6 Science syllabuses.

The syllabus names have replaced the reference to scientific concepts in some of the performance band descriptors.

11 February 2019

Errata – Chemistry (2017) for implementation immediately

(Official Notice NESA 12/19)

Schools are advised of the following errata in the Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus (2017) with immediate effect.

Module: 8
Topic: Analysis of Organic Substances

Content to amend	Amended content
investigate the processes used to analyse the structure of simple organic compounds addressed in the course, including but not limited to: proton and carbon-13 NMR mass spectroscopy (ACSH19) infrared spectroscopy (ACSCH130)	investigate the processes used to analyse the structure of simple organic compounds addressed in the course, including but not limited to: proton and carbon-13 NMR mass spectrometry infrared spectroscopy (ACSCH130)

22 January 2018

Errata – Chemistry (2017) for implementation with Year 11 from 2018

(Official Notice NESA 1/18)

NESA recognises the importance of ensuring all syllabuses are of the highest standard. The following amendments are made to strengthen and clarify the content of the Chemistry syllabus.

Schools are advised of the following errata in the new Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus for implementation with Year 11 from 2018.

Module: 7
Topic: Reactions of Organic Acids and Bases

Content to amend	Amended content
investigate the structural formulae, properties and functional group including: primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols aldehydes and ketones (ACSCH127) amines and amides	investigate the structural formulae, properties and functional group including: primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols aldehydes and ketones (ACSCH127) amines and amides carboxylic acids

Module: 8
Topic: Analysis of Organic Substances

Content to amend	Amended content
investigate the processes used to analyse the structure of simple organic compounds addressed in the course, including but not limited to: carbon-13 NMR mass spectroscopy (ACSCH19) infrared spectroscopy (ACSCH130)	investigate the processes used to analyse the structure of simple organic compounds addressed in the course, including but not limited to: proton and carbon-13 NMR mass spectroscopy (ACSCH19) infrared spectroscopy (ACSCH130)

6 October 2017

New Stage 6 syllabuses and school-based assessment requirements

(Official Notice NESA 39/17)

New syllabuses and school-based assessment requirements are to be implemented from Term 1, 2018 for Year 11 and Term 4, 2018 for Year 12. The course will be examined for the first time for the HSC in 2019. Support materials, examination specifications and sample examination materials are available.

22 June 2017

Errata - New Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus for implementation with Year 11 from 2018

(Official Notice NESA 23/17)

Schools are advised of the following errata in the new Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus for implementation with Year 11 from 2018.

Module 1
Topic: Bonding

Content to amend	Amended content
ionic networks covalent lattices (including diamond and silicon dioxide) covalent networks metallic structure	ionic networks covalent networks (including diamond and silicon dioxide) covalent molecular metallic structure

Module 5
Topic: Solution Equilibria

Content to amend	Amended content
Investigate the processes used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples when removing toxicity from foods, for example:	Investigate the use of solubility equilibria by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples when removing toxicity from foods, for example:

Module 6
Topic: Using Brønsted–Lowry Theory

Content to amend	Amended content
sodium hydrogen carbonate potassium hydrogen sulfate	sodium hydrogen carbonate potassium dihydrogen phosphate

Module 7
Topic: Alcohols

Content to amend	Amended content
compare and contrast fuels from inorganic sources to biofuels, including ethanol	compare and contrast fuels from organic sources to biofuels, including ethanol

30 March 2017

Clarifications and Errata - New Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabuses for implementation with Year 11 from 2018

(Official Notice NESA 18/17)

Schools are advised of the following clarification in the new Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus for implementation with Year 11 from 2018.

Module 2
Topic: Mole Concept

Original content	Clarification
In the equation to find the number of moles the notation for molar mass is ‘MM’.	This notation can be written as M, M(x) or MM. The term ‘molar mass’ will be included in the Glossary.

Original content

Clarification

In the equation to find the number of moles the notation for molar mass is ‘MM’.

This notation can be written as M, M(x) or MM.

The term ‘molar mass’ will be included in the Glossary.

3 June 2009

Advice to teachers of Science about Creationism and Intelligent Design

(Official Notice BOS 17/09)

In developing the NSW Science curriculum, the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA – formerly the Board of Studies NSW) undertook extensive consultation with experts in the field to ensure that content, including that relating to evolution, would be consistent with accepted scientific knowledge and understanding.

NESA wishes to remind teachers that Creationism and Intelligent Design are not part of the NESA’s Science syllabuses. If taught as part of any school-based program, it must be clear to students that Creationism and Intelligent Design:

are not scientific, nor evidence-based
will not be included in any task that forms part of the assessment of student achievement for the award of the Higher School Certificate
will not be tested in any Higher School Certificate examination and will not be relevant to any response to Higher School Certificate questions.

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