Week 9 brings together three core disciplines: stereochemistry, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry- topics that frequently appear in Section 3 of the GAMSAT in highly integrative and cognitively loaded formats. You will learn to visualise chiral molecules in three-dimensional space, calculate and interpret thermodynamic parameters, and deconstruct the function of electrochemical cells and redox reactions. The content is delivered with a problem-solving focus, training you to identify independent variables, manipulate formulas, and track system changes across diverse data sets and diagram formats.
These topics are not only foundational in biomedical sciences, but are disproportionately represented in GAMSAT due to their conceptual difficulty and integration potential.
Stereochemistry: identifying and comparing optical isomers, chirality, enantiomers
Thermodynamics: Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, entropy, spontaneity of reactions
Electrochemistry: galvanic cells, redox reactions, standard reduction potentials
Resonance structures: electron delocalisation and stability in molecular systems
Spatial reasoning with complex 3D molecular structures
Systems-level analysis of energy transfer and chemical equilibrium
Diagram interpretation of electrochemical setups and reaction coordinate graphs
Formula manipulation under pressure
Tracking controlled, dependent, and independent variables in compound experiments
Applying cognitive loading techniques to manage high-volume visual and numerical data
ACER frequently tests these topics through multi-step reasoning problems that require both foundational knowledge and advanced application skills. Stereochemistry and electrochemistry are often embedded in spatial geometry diagrams, while thermodynamics underpins data interpretation tasks involving reaction pathways. Mastering this content equips you to perform under cognitive load, solve harder-weighted questions efficiently, and develop the spatial and systems-based thinking that define top-percentile Section 3 scorers.
