CHEM10007 · Fundamentals Of Chemistry
The Complete Exam Bible · S1 2026Fundamentals of Chemistry
CHEM10007 Fundamentals of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne takes you from zero chemistry knowledge through atoms, bonding, the mole and stoichiometry, gases and energy, equilibrium, acids/bases and redox, to organic structure across 11 weeks. The whole subject is examined in one closed-book exam worth 60% — Section A multiple choice (60 marks) plus Section B extended written answers (60 marks), 2 hours of writing plus 15 minutes reading time — with an official appendices booklet (constants, formula sheet, Periodic Table) supplied, so marks come from choosing the right relationship and substituting correctly with significant figures, not from memorising formulae. Note the hurdle: you must satisfactorily complete the practical work and attend a minimum of 4 of the 6 lab classes to pass the subject.
What CHEM10007 covers
The whole subject → one exam-ready map. Each topic links to its free chapter guide.
How CHEM10007 is assessed
| Component | Weight | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Online Feedback Quizzes (FBQ-1 to FBQ-5) | 10% | 5 quizzes (2% each), 30-min online MCQ, open across the relevant weeks |
| Sustainability Independent Learning Task (ILT) | 5% | Online interactive quiz on sustainability (content not covered in lectures), due Week 12 |
| Practical work (laboratory) · hurdle | 20% | 6 experiments F1–F6; 6 lab worksheets/reports; report cannot be submitted without doing the experiment |
| Pre-Laboratory Quizzes | 5% | 5 online quizzes, each completed before its practical class (no quiz = no lab entry) |
| Exam | 60% | On-campus, closed-book, 2 h writing + 15 min reading; Section A MCQ (60 marks) + Section B extended written (60 marks); appendices booklet provided |
Section B archetype — Redox titration: percentage of iron in an ore
- 1 mark — correct reductant identifiedFe2+ is oxidised to Fe3+ (loses an electron), so Fe2+ is the reductant; MnO4− is reduced and is the oxidant.
- 1 mark — n = cV with volume in litresn(MnO4−) = cV = 0.0200 mol L−1 × 0.02400 L = 4.80 × 10−4 mol.
- 1 mark — applies the 5:1 ratioMole ratio Fe2+ : MnO4− = 5 : 1, so n(Fe2+) = 5 × 4.80 × 10−4 = 2.40 × 10−3 mol.
- 1 mark — mass of iron via m = nMm(Fe) = n × M = 2.40 × 10−3 mol × 55.85 g mol−1 = 0.134 g.
- 1 mark — correct percentage%Fe = (mass of Fe ÷ mass of sample) × 100 = (0.134 ÷ 0.450) × 100 = 29.8 %.
- 1 mark — significant figures + sanity checkReport to 3 significant figures: the inputs (0.0200 M, 24.00 mL, 0.450 g) carry 3 sig figs, so the answer is 29.8 % Fe — a sensible value for an iron ore.
Key terms
- Mole (n)
- The amount of substance containing Avogadro's number (6.0221 × 1023) of particles. Linked to mass by n = m/M and to solution concentration by n = cV — the hinge of every stoichiometry calculation.
- Limiting reagent
- The reactant that runs out first and so caps the amount of product. Found by dividing each reactant's moles by its balancing coefficient; the smallest value is limiting.
- Enthalpy change (ΔH)
- The heat exchanged at constant pressure. ΔH < 0 is exothermic (heat released); ΔH > 0 is endothermic. Measured by calorimetry via q = mcΔT and combined with Hess's Law.
- Standard cell potential (E°cell)
- The voltage of a galvanic cell under standard conditions, E°cell = E°reduction + E°oxidation. A positive E°cell means the redox reaction is spontaneous.
- pH
- A measure of acidity, pH = −log10[H3O+]. With pH + pOH = 14.0 at 25 °C, it links to pOH, Kw and (for weak acids) Ka.
- Significant figures
- The reliable digits in a measurement. For × and ÷ the answer takes the fewest sig figs of the inputs; for + and − it takes the fewest decimal places. Explicitly marked in Section B.
CHEM10007 FAQ
Is the CHEM10007 exam open or closed book?
Closed-book. You may not bring cheat sheets, notes or textbooks, but an appendices booklet (physical constants, a chemical-relationships formula sheet, selected Ka/Kb/Ksp and standard reduction potentials, and a Periodic Table) is supplied. An FX82 calculator and an unassembled molecular model kit are allowed.
How long is the exam and how is it structured?
It is a 2-hour written exam with 15 minutes of reading time (no writing during reading). Section A is multiple choice (60 marks, write the capital letter in the box) and Section B is extended written answers (60 marks). The Subject Overview table lists 2.5 hours; the dedicated Exam Information page states 2 hours writing + 15 minutes reading — check the official timetable for your offering.
Do I have to pass the labs to pass the subject?
Yes. Practical work is a hurdle: you must attend a minimum of 4 of the 6 practical classes and satisfactorily complete (pass) the practical reports overall. A lab report cannot be submitted without doing the experiment, and a pre-lab quiz must be completed before each class to gain entry.
Do I need prior chemistry to take CHEM10007?
No. The welcome page states the subject requires no prior knowledge of chemistry — it starts from the nature of matter and builds the full first-year toolkit over 11 weeks of dual-delivery (online plus on-campus) teaching.
What textbook does CHEM10007 use?
Chemistry: Core Concepts, 3rd Edition (Blackman, Southam, Lawrie, Williamson & Thompson, Wiley). All weekly readings reference 3rd-edition section numbers; earlier editions are not referenced.
How to study for the exam
Treat the appendices booklet as a working tool, not a crutch: print the formula sheet early and practise choosing the right relationship for each question type, because the marks live in method and significant figures, not recall. Build fluency in the high-yield Section B archetypes first — limiting reagent / % yield, redox titration, weak-acid pH via an ICE table, calorimetry (q = mcΔT linked to moles and ΔH), and gas-law plus pV = nRT manipulation — since these recur across the mock and practice exams. Use the 5 Feedback Quizzes as low-stakes diagnostics across the semester rather than cramming them, and protect the lab hurdle by completing every pre-lab quiz and attending well above the 4-class minimum. In the final fortnight, rehearse the set up → substitute → sig figs → sanity-check rhythm on past-style questions, and keep T in kelvin and volumes in litres as automatic reflexes.
