ATAR Notes: Forum

Archived Discussion => Mathematics/Science/Technology => 2014 => Exam Discussion => Victoria => Chemistry => Topic started by: thushan on November 11, 2014, 11:57:21 am

Title: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: thushan on November 11, 2014, 11:57:21 am
How was it!?

I'm doing the paper as I'm writing this.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: keltingmeith on November 11, 2014, 11:58:56 am
Any questions on significant figures this time around? :P
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Jnf17 on November 11, 2014, 12:09:19 pm
Thushan- that question on ionising Z groups was on there! Thankfully VCAA told us that it ionised! Was fairly accessible I thought.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Ya Habibi on November 11, 2014, 12:41:13 pm
Not a very hard exam. Very accessible. Even though it was 45 pages, I completed it comfortably with 30 minutes.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Blondie21 on November 11, 2014, 12:52:12 pm
Not a very hard exam. Very accessible. Even though it was 45 pages, I completed it comfortably with 30 minutes.

I did not find it as accessible as most people here haha I spent a lot of time on one question so I wasted a lot of time there <_< >_> overall, not as bad as I thought it would be.

So happy that there was hardly any bio stuff wooooo hooooo !!! Or biofuels
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: apreslapluie on November 11, 2014, 12:57:35 pm
I did not find it as accessible as most people here haha I spent a lot of time on one question so I wasted a lot of time there <_< >_> overall, not as bad as I thought it would be.

So happy that there was hardly any bio stuff wooooo hooooo !!! Or biofuels

yeah really glad there wasn't much biochem or biofuels!

pretty heavy on electrochem but not exactly terrible either? it was tough but yeah not as hard as expected.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: thushan on November 11, 2014, 01:00:11 pm
Finished doing the short answer except the essay question. I found the paper a bit on the difficult side, there are some questions the answer to which I'm not entirely confident about.

Will write solutions to SAQ in a subsequent post.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: thushan on November 11, 2014, 01:02:11 pm
Re: 2014 Chemistry Exam Solutions

Solutions to SAQs here.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Brunette15 on November 11, 2014, 01:03:11 pm
I felt that there was more unit 4 then unit 3 stuff on there but it wasn't too bad. Harder than last years exam I would say though...
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: speedy on November 11, 2014, 01:03:21 pm
Finished doing the short answer except the essay question. I found the paper a bit on the difficult side, there are some questions the answer to which I'm not entirely confident about.

Will write solutions to SAQ in a subsequent post.

Harder than 2013?
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Mieow on November 11, 2014, 01:04:01 pm
This is probably the dumbest question but is mA a thousandth of an amp?
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: thushan on November 11, 2014, 01:04:30 pm
Harder than 2013?

Yeah, I'd say so. Lots of questions from left field.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Mujteba on November 11, 2014, 01:08:08 pm
This is probably the dumbest question but is mA a thousandth of an amp?

Yep. Little m is 10^-3
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Edward21 on November 11, 2014, 01:09:53 pm
I'm glad this wasn't my paper haha! It was definitely harder than last year, I think it's safe to assume the A+ cutoff would have to be at least a little lower considering the length and raised difficulty of the questions.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Mieow on November 11, 2014, 01:12:07 pm
Btw why was apricot ground to a powder? Is it so it could dissolve quickly in solution?
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: shroomer101 on November 11, 2014, 01:13:04 pm
for question 2a short answer i put A as chloroethane is that still correct??
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Blondie21 on November 11, 2014, 01:17:05 pm
This is probably the dumbest question but is mA a thousandth of an amp?

When I saw this I was like 'shit shit shit'

but then I remembered the physics kids telling me off for using A instead of mA during our SAC and why so yey for random memories
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Robert123 on November 11, 2014, 01:19:51 pm
for question 2a short answer i put A as chloroethane is that still correct??
I don't believe so since H20 can not be use in a substitution reaction.
Btw why was apricot ground to a powder? Is it so it could dissolve quickly in solution?
Probably not right but I presume it was to allow all the SO2 to react. If it wasn't in powder form then there could still be some SO2 inside it which wouldn't be able to react with the other chemicals
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Saikyo on November 11, 2014, 01:20:33 pm
Btw why was apricot ground to a powder? Is it so it could dissolve quickly in solution?

Yep. Grind into powder = increase surface area = increase rate of reaction.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: speedy on November 11, 2014, 01:20:49 pm
This is probably the dumbest question but is mA a thousandth of an amp?

Ahh, too late now, and you got it right anyway, but there is a conversion table in the data book.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: thushan on November 11, 2014, 01:22:48 pm
Yep. Grind into powder = increase surface area = increase rate of reaction.

I'm not sure what VCAA wanted in that question. I would have written - to ensure all of SO2 in the apricot reacts instead of only that on the surface of the apricot.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Saikyo on November 11, 2014, 01:25:46 pm
I'm not sure what VCAA wanted in that question. I would have written - to ensure all of SO2 in the apricot reacts instead of only that on the surface of the apricot.

So are you saying I'm wrong?  :-[
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: shroomer101 on November 11, 2014, 01:28:12 pm
I don't believe so since H20 can not be use in a substitution reaction.Probably not right but I presume it was to allow all the SO2 to react.

Really?? it was on my teacher's notes too but he's not very reliable :\ *sigh*
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: thushan on November 11, 2014, 01:43:24 pm
So are you saying I'm wrong?  :-[

What you said is entirely correct. Not sure if that's what VCAA wants. But I see your point - you dont want to wait >9000 years to be sure all the SO2 has been extracted and reacted.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Ya Habibi on November 11, 2014, 02:09:00 pm
What you said is entirely correct. Not sure if that's what VCAA wants. But I see your point - you dont want to wait >9000 years to be sure all the SO2 has been extracted and reacted.

Yeah exactly. I wrote that powdered form was necessary so that no clumping would exist ect ect so that so2 can react blah
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Lizzy7 on November 11, 2014, 02:18:27 pm
Yeah, I'd say so. Lots of questions from left field.

Hey Thushan, would you be able to give us a rough estimate on what the A+ cut off would be? 100/120?
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: thushan on November 11, 2014, 02:22:00 pm
100/120 sounds like a reasonable estimate I think.

My guess is about 95 to 105.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: smartypants234 on November 11, 2014, 02:28:31 pm
guys im getting really worried...

according to the paper, it said "give an example of two amino acid side chains" that may .....


does this mean we give the side chain, i.e, cooh or the actual amino acid.

would i lose marks for writing cooh????
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: yoyoball on November 11, 2014, 02:30:26 pm
guys im getting really worried...

according to the paper, it said "give an example of two amino acid side chains" that may .....


does this mean we give the side chain, i.e, cooh or the actual amino acid.

would i lose marks for writing cooh????

I did that too :/
Am i the only person who feels like this was one of the harder vcaa papers??? All those cells were confusing as fk
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: thushan on November 11, 2014, 02:32:43 pm
if I were in charge, I'd pay either.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Lizzy7 on November 11, 2014, 02:38:52 pm
I did that too :/
Am i the only person who feels like this was one of the harder vcaa papers??? All those cells were confusing as fk

The other questions had the words "amino acids" but this question had "amino acid side chain"   so I guess because that's what they're asking for that's what they're going to accept :/
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: GregSmeg on November 11, 2014, 03:31:50 pm
Not a very hard exam. Very accessible. Even though it was 45 pages, I completed it comfortably with 30 minutes.

Yes I concur. The exam was child's play for a Chemistry aficionado such as myself. After a quick peruse in reading time I completed the exam in under 20 minutes, beating my personal best by 1.7 minutes. It's understandable that such an examination would be written by the plebeian VCAA but I suppose it must allow for the lowest common denominator (I'm looking at you public schools, or should I say barnyards). It disappoints me to see such easy solutions but perhaps I have reached such a level of analytic prowess that a challenge is nigh impossible to come by for me. All in all, I rate the exam a 2/10. I would have rated it higher but alas there was not a single viscosity question.

King Regards,
Lord Greg
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Rod on November 11, 2014, 03:55:06 pm
Yes I concur. The exam was child's play for a Chemistry aficionado such as myself. After a quick peruse in reading time I completely the exam in under 20 minutes, beating my personal best by 1.7 minutes. It's understandable that such an examination would be written by the plebeian VCAA but I suppose it must allow for the lowest common denominator (I'm looking at you public schools, or should I say barnyards). It disappoints me to see such easy solutions but perhaps I have reached such a level of analytic prowess that a challenge is nigh impossible to come by for me. All in all, I rate the exam a 2/10. I would have rated it higher but alas there was not a single viscosity question.

King Regards,
Lord Greg
What?
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Rishi97 on November 11, 2014, 03:57:18 pm
This exam was...ouch
I found it terrible  :'(
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Kaleidoscope on November 11, 2014, 04:17:02 pm
I keep reminding myself that I just need a 30 haha
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: thushan on November 11, 2014, 04:20:25 pm
Yes I concur. The exam was child's play for a Chemistry aficionado such as myself. After a quick peruse in reading time I completely the exam in under 20 minutes, beating my personal best by 1.7 minutes. It's understandable that such an examination would be written by the plebeian VCAA but I suppose it must allow for the lowest common denominator (I'm looking at you public schools, or should I say barnyards). It disappoints me to see such easy solutions but perhaps I have reached such a level of analytic prowess that a challenge is nigh impossible to come by for me. All in all, I rate the exam a 2/10. I would have rated it higher but alas there was not a single viscosity question.

King Regards,
Lord Greg

I assume this is meant to be a joke. Or a troll.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Rod on November 11, 2014, 04:38:44 pm
I assume this is meant to be a joke. Or a troll.
Hopefully, what an idiot.

Hey Thushan, in the exam rankings thread for chemistry you ranked each of the chemistry exams since 2008 from hardest to easiest. Where would 2014 be placed? Below 2009? Below 2013? You had 2013 as a big more than mid-range if I remember correctly. I'll try and search up your rankings and post it..

EDIT: Here are your rankings
From hard to easy IMO:
- 2009 Exam 1
- 2008 Exam 2
- 2012 Exam 2
- 2013 Exam
- 2011 Exam 1 and Exam 2
- 2012 Exam 1
- 2008 Exam 1, 2009 Exam 2, 2010 Exam 2 are about the same
- 2010 Exam 1 was very easy (A+ cut was 90%)

Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: grannysmith on November 11, 2014, 04:42:20 pm
Yes I concur. The exam was child's play for a Chemistry aficionado such as myself. After a quick peruse in reading time I completely the exam in under 20 minutes, beating my personal best by 1.7 minutes. It's understandable that such an examination would be written by the plebeian VCAA but I suppose it must allow for the lowest common denominator (I'm looking at you public schools, or should I say barnyards). It disappoints me to see such easy solutions but perhaps I have reached such a level of analytic prowess that a challenge is nigh impossible to come by for me. All in all, I rate the exam a 2/10. I would have rated it higher but alas there was not a single viscosity question.

King Regards,
Lord Greg
Please, not the time and place.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: InNeedForHelp on November 11, 2014, 05:01:01 pm
Yes I concur. The exam was child's play for a Chemistry aficionado such as myself. After a quick peruse in reading time I completely the exam in under 20 minutes, beating my personal best by 1.7 minutes. It's understandable that such an examination would be written by the plebeian VCAA but I suppose it must allow for the lowest common denominator (I'm looking at you public schools, or should I say barnyards). It disappoints me to see such easy solutions but perhaps I have reached such a level of analytic prowess that a challenge is nigh impossible to come by for me. All in all, I rate the exam a 2/10. I would have rated it higher but alas there was not a single viscosity question.

King Regards,
Lord Greg
I don't see the purpose of trolling on an educational forum?
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Rod on November 11, 2014, 05:16:36 pm
I don't see the purpose of trolling on an educational forum?
Some people have completed their exams. Now, since they have no lives and are bored, they are off terrorizing forums like atarnotes.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: yoyoball on November 11, 2014, 05:27:49 pm
Some people have completed their exams. Now, since they have no lives and are bored, they are off terrorizing forums like atarnotes.
C'mon he was jst joking. Tryna lighten the mood!!
Btw thushan, thank u very much for the vtextbook tutorials literally saved my ass for unit 4  :D :D  :D :D
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: GregSmeg on November 11, 2014, 06:12:04 pm
I assume this is meant to be a joke. Or a troll.

You think this is in jest good sir? I suppose the flippancy with which you treat such important topics is indicative of the pervasive indolence our society is struggling with today. Again it confirms the melancholy truth that these exams must be simplified for those who care not but one iota for the eternal quest for knowledge.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: GregSmeg on November 11, 2014, 06:16:39 pm
Hopefully, what an idiot.

No sir but you are the ignoramus. I am but professing truth and struggling to maintain objectivity in such impartial times. Perhaps if we were to bow to corporate bureaucracy would we achieve a true utopian society free from prejudicial nonsensical thought.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Lizzy7 on November 11, 2014, 06:17:11 pm
You think this is in jest good sir? I suppose the flippancy with which you treat such important topics is indicative of the pervasive indolence our society is struggling with today. Again it confirms the melancholy truth that these exams must be simplified for those who care not but one iota for the eternal quest for knowledge.

I would not be surprised if you were actually from my School.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: GregSmeg on November 11, 2014, 06:29:39 pm
Please, not the time and place.

Then when is the time and place? In death? For if we do not speak out now then when shall we ever transcend above these primitive thoughts and seek out Teilhard De Chardin's fabled noosphere?

Some people have completed their exams. Now, since they have no lives and are bored, they are off terrorizing forums like atarnotes.

Ah but sir, is it not the job of the philosopher, the seeker of truth (the prophet perhaps?) to point out dialectical absurdities in flawed logic, to 'short-circuit' methodologies that have come into existence through presupposed beliefs and critically analyze them through the lens of a 'minor' author who has been marginalized, disavowed by hegemonic ideology. Perhaps I am wasting my time, but I assure you, it is not time I have to discard. I simply attempt to throw into stark relief the insidious propaganda that corrupts even the most innocent of thinkers.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: JamesBeresford on November 11, 2014, 06:42:11 pm
The other questions had the words "amino acids" but this question had "amino acid side chain"   so I guess because that's what they're asking for that's what they're going to accept :/


I picked up on the classic vcaa twisted question and I'm sure hoping I got it right too, but I guess they just wanted to test us if we knew which part of the amino acid formed, for example, salt bridges etc. instead of just naming the AA which is less specific (idk the vcaa are sadists!!! I hope they're not too harsh on you :) in previous exams for methods I've been told that they've realised that the question was sub-vcaa standard and accepted 2 answers and this is not uncommon for other subjects) overall, well done to everyone who sat the exam today and hopefully we all get what we want from the subject :)

Just to add though, for the essay thing at the end, I only found 2 things to write about in detail and idk it was weird!!! :O
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Ya Habibi on November 11, 2014, 08:07:39 pm


I picked up on the classic vcaa twisted question and I'm sure hoping I got it right too, but I guess they just wanted to test us if we knew which part of the amino acid formed, for example, salt bridges etc. instead of just naming the AA which is less specific (idk the vcaa are sadists!!! I hope they're not too harsh on you :) in previous exams for methods I've been told that they've realised that the question was sub-vcaa standard and accepted 2 answers and this is not uncommon for other subjects) overall, well done to everyone who sat the exam today and hopefully we all get what we want from the subject :)

Just to add though, for the essay thing at the end, I only found 2 things to write about in detail and idk it was weird!!! :O

It was almost exactly like the 2012 Sample paper.
They also got the equation for the reaction wrong :)
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Yuki N. on November 12, 2014, 09:33:18 am
they'll definitely give marks for writing the side chains since that is what they explicitly asked for. if anything, writing down the name of the amino acid may not get you any marks depending on how harsh VCAA is, because you are not answering the question
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: BLACKCATT on November 12, 2014, 12:39:14 pm
IS IT OKAY IF I DID MY EXAM IN PENCIL? D:
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: skeletalclown on November 12, 2014, 03:08:14 pm
I used pencil for a fair portion of mine too, and as far as I know it's fine to do so. The only issue is if it either smudges or, as pencil doesn't scan as well as pen, ends up being too faint to read. As long as you don't have a super smudgy pencil, and as long as you didn't write super lightly, you'll be fine!!
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Jnf17 on November 12, 2014, 06:39:02 pm
I used pencil for a fair portion of mine too, and as far as I know it's fine to do so. The only issue is if it either smudges or, as pencil doesn't scan as well as pen, ends up being too faint to read. As long as you don't have a super smudgy pencil, and as long as you didn't write super lightly, you'll be fine!!

Yeah this is the correct interpretation - you won't be penalised unless they cannot read it. Was told at a lecture that some examiners get a bad impression from your exam if they start to see pencil as it makes it harder to mark but hopefully you'll be okay.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Countrylad on November 13, 2014, 10:12:00 am
They shouldn't cry on pencils as I hope everyone has been taught to draw graphs and images with a pencil. not pen.
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: DJA on November 14, 2014, 03:32:11 pm
I thought the exam was managable - SO much electrochemistry which I enjoyed thank god I studied for that topic… Overall I thought it required a really strong understanding of chemistry as in not like formulae - but the basic principles, like ratios densities and chemical reactions etc which I liked.

ppm LOL tho
Title: Re: Examination Discussion 2014
Post by: Ya Habibi on November 14, 2014, 04:16:54 pm
I thought the exam was managable - SO much electrochemistry which I enjoyed thank god I studied for that topic… Overall I thought it required a really strong understanding of chemistry as in not like formulae - but the basic principles, like ratios densities and chemical reactions etc which I liked.

ppm LOL tho

Yeah ppm lel. I'm glad I read over the KLD unit summary :)