Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC)

Our senior Chemistry students recently visited the Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC) to carry out hands-on investigations as part of their current unit on organic chemistry.

This exciting practical experience involved exploring reaction pathways, organic synthesis, and the identification of functional groups in carbon-based compounds.

Carbon is the backbone of life – not only forming the structure of living tissues, but also playing a key role in fuels, foods, medicines, polymers, and countless materials we use every day.

In their current study unit students are investigating the structures and reactions of carbon-based organic compounds, including how green chemistry principles can be applied in the production of synthetic compounds, while also using laboratory analysis and instrumentation techniques to identify organic compounds and assess product purity.