HSC Chemistry
We use chemistry everyday to treat, monitor and manage the urban water cycle.
We've developed a range of educational resources to show how we do this.
You can learn about our high school excursions and make excursion requests online.
We use chemistry every day to manage and monitor the urban water cycle.
Investigate these links and learn more about how water is filtered and monitored.
- Water quality and filtration - find out how we choose the best source of water and filter it.
- Orchard Hills Water Filtration Plant - learn more about the filtration process used at Orchard Hills.
- Water analysis - find out the quality of your drinking water.
- How does water is delivered to your property? - enter your address to find out.
We all enjoy clean, safe drinking water every day.
Investigate these links and learn more about how wastewater is treated and how we make recycled water.
- Wastewater treatment - find out what wastewater is and how it's treated.
- Solids recycling - learn about how we re-use the by-products of wastewater treatment.
- St Marys Advanced Water Recycling Plant - learn about technologies used to make recycled water.
- Penrith Water Recycling Plant - find out more about the wastewater treatment process used at Penrith.
- Wastewater treatment plant virtual tour - take a virtual tour of Penrith.
- How wastewater is treated and recycled - an animation.
Using recycled water where we can helps us all.
Understanding pH
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Try this Make an indicator experiment to make a pH indicator out of cabbage! Watch our Make a pH indicator video to see how you can test things in your home and see if they are an acid or a base.
A buffer helps manage pH levels in water treatment.
- Take a look at an exam Sample answer- Module 6 acid/base.
- Watch our Natural buffers in water treatment video.
Balancing chemical equations
The following resources will help you understand the chemistry behind the treatment process at Orchard Hills Water Filtration Plant.
- Balancing chemical equations - teacher instructions and answers.
- Balancing chemical equations - student worksheet.
- Chemical equation card sets Set A, Set B and Set C.
Make a simple water filter
- Try the Make a simple water filter experiment to make the most effective water filter.
Make a membrane model
- Try the Make a membrane model activity to make a model of a reverse osmosis membrane module.
Polymers
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Learn more about Polymers in reverse osmosis membranes.
Polymer chains help us recycle water.
- See how we use Polymers in water and solids recycling.
- Take a look at an exam Sample answer - Module 7 polymer.
- Watch our Polymers in water treatment video.
Drinking water
- Use this fact sheet to learn more about Drinking water filtration.
- Understand people's perceptions on drinking water with this Drinking water taste test.
Wastewater
- Use this fact sheet to learn more about What's in wastewater.
- Try doing a wastewater audit.
Reliability and validity
- Take a look at an exam Sample answer - Module 8 ions.
Depth study program
Looking for inspiration for a whole class depth study? Take a look at our depth study programs and sample assessment tasks.
- Drinking water depth study program and Drinking water depth study assessment task.
- Water recycling depth study program and Water recycling depth study assessment task.
- Wastewater depth study program and Wastewater depth study assessment task.
Each program gives you ideas for four hours of in-class activities that will support our Stage 6 Chemistry depth study excursions.
Other lesson plans
- Balancing chemical equations - teacher instructions and answers.
- Teacher lesson plan - Make a membrane model.
- Teacher lesson plan - Drinking water taste test.
- Teacher lesson plan - Wastewater audit.
We apply scientific principles everyday to manage the urban water cycle.
HSC Earth and Environmental Science
HSC Earth and Environmental Science webpage has fact sheets, activities, lesson plans and depth study programs on the urban water cycle.
Syllabus-linked excursion requests
Come behind the scenes and see how we apply chemistry to protect public health and the environment as we manage water and wastewater sustainably.
See our Request an excursion page to book an excursion tailored to HSC Chemistry.