This unit provides a broad introduction to the fundamental principles common to all branches of chemistry. The unit is intended to serve the needs not only of chemistry majors, but also those intending to specialise in other related disciplines. The unit focuses on scientific notation, nomenclature, chemical equations, stoichiometry, the mole concept, atomic structure, periodicity, electronic configuration, structure and bonding, states of matter, intermolecular forces, properties of solutions, chemical thermodynamics, chemical equilibria, and electrochemistry.

This unit covers the nature of the earth's surface and physical processes operating on it; properties and behaviour of the crust of the earth; mineral products, especially energy, metals and water; maps and geologic structures; and minerals, rocks, fossils. Two one-day field excursions are undertaken.

This unit covers rocks and minerals as chemical systems; acquisition, presentation and use (modelling) of geochemical data; chemical evolution of Earth's atmosphere and oceans; monitoring Earth's major and minor climatic events; land degradation; remote sensing and aerial photographic interpretation; chemical aspects of ore genesis; minerals and phase equilibria; transport and cycling of the elements.

This unit covers the composition, structure and formation of selected examples from the silicate and non-silicate mineral groups. It deals with the structures of minerals and their determination, interpretation of structural data in the literature, aspects of solid solution, the forces which stabilize mineral lattices and the grouping of various minerals in terms of their chemical and structural characteristics. The chemistry of mineral formation at high and low temperatures will be examined. Analytical methods (X-rays, SEM and microprobe and classical) in the study of minerals and their properties are explored.

This unit covers selected topics taken from the following list: limits of chemical conditions in the natural environment (redox, pH, concentrations); mobilisation and transport of selected elements in primary and secondary environments – aqueous and supercritical fluids, gases; complexing and ion-pairing phenomena; metal ions buffers in geochemical cycles – adsorption, co-precipitation, mineral formation; dispersion of elements in the weathering environment.

This unit covers three important applied aspects of modern inorganic chemistry: environmental inorganic chemistry; chemistry in mineral and metallurgical processing; and the characterisation of solid inorganic materials by state-of-the-art analytical techniques. The course material is presented via weekly lectures, one three-day field excursion at the school's field station at Burraga, and some essential integrated hands-on practical work with the relevant analytical instrumentation.

This unit covers composition of ocean, ground and surface waters and their interactions with the atmosphere, rocks, soils, sediments and man-made pollutants; transfer of dissolved material between environments and detection and control of toxic waste materials; environmental quality criteria, field assessment and sampling and modelling of selected environmental systems.

300645 Science Research Project 2 is a final-year capstone unit that gives students an introduction to scientific research, while extending their knowledge and practical skills in a particular area of interest. Each student undertakes a small research project under the supervision of an academic staff member. Collaboration with an external organisation may occur in some projects. With the assistance of their supervisor, students will define the problem to be studied, carry out a risk assessment, develop the appropriate experimental methods, carry out research on their project, and present a final written report and a poster or oral presentation. This unit offers a challenge to final-year students, and allows innovation by the student with respect to both method and research direction. Students who wish to complete a 10 credit-point project will normally enrol in this unit. Subject to permission from the Unit Co-ordinator, students may undertake a 20 credit-point project by enrolling in both 300615 Research Project 1 and 300645 Research Project 2. These units may be taken in the same semester, or in consecutive semesters. Students studying at Campbelltown campus should refer to 300542 Biomolecular Science Project.