Number
AS90173
Version
1
Page 1 of 3
Achievement Standard
Subject Reference
Chemistry 1.6
Title
Describe the chemistry of selected non-metals and their
compounds
Level
1
Subfield
Science
Domain
Chemistry
Registration date
Credits
13 December 2001
5
Assessment
Date version published
External
13 December 2001
This achievement standard involves the description of the properties, preparation and
importance of selected non-metals and their compounds.
Achievement Criteria
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with
Excellence



Describe the properties
and preparation of, and
state the importance of,
selected non-metals and
their compounds.
Explain the properties,
preparation and
importance of selected
non-metals and their
compounds.
Analyse the properties
and preparation of
selected non-metals and
their compounds, and
evaluate their importance.
Explanatory Notes
1
This achievement standard is derived from Chemistry in the New Zealand Curriculum,
Learning Media, Ministry of Education, 1994, achievement objectives 6.1 and 6.3, p. 18.
2
Importance refers to the impact and uses of non-metals and their compounds on people
and on the environment. This could include the impact of commercial preparation
processes.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
Number
AS90173
Version
1
Page 2 of 3
3
Non-metals will involve a selection from the following:

properties of carbon, chlorine, nitrogen and sulfur - state at room temperature,
colour, solubility in water and reaction with oxygen

processes of commercial preparations: chlorine (electrolysis of brine); nitrogen
(from liquid air); sulfur (from natural gas)

carbon and nitrogen cycle - the description of the nitrogen cycle will be limited to
the major nitrogen-containing species (nitrogen gas, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and
proteins) and the changes involved

allotropes of carbon and sulfur, for carbon the relationship of their structure to their
physical properties

uses of chlorine related to the nature of its aqueous solution.
4
Non-metal compounds will involve a selection from the following:

properties of the compounds - carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitric
acid and sulfuric acid: solubility and the acidic nature of their aqueous solution

laboratory preparations: ammonia (by heating a mixture of calcium hydroxide and
ammonium chloride); hydrogen chloride (from the reaction of sodium chloride and
concentrated sulfuric acid); sulfur dioxide (by the reaction of dilute hydrochloric
acid with sulfites); oxides of nitrogen (from the reaction of copper with nitric acid)

processes of commercial preparations: ammonia (by the Haber Process); sulfuric
acid (by the Contact Process); superphosphate (from rock phosphate); sodium
hypochlorite (from sodium hydroxide and chlorine)

uses of non-metal compounds related to their properties. The compounds will be
selected from carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, sodium hypochlorite. The uses are
related to: CO2 - solubility in water, density and inability to support combustion;
SO2 - solubility in water, and its ability to act as a reductant (in its capacity as a
preservative and bleach); sodium hypochlorite - its bleaching and antiseptic
properties

the impact of non-metal oxides on people and the environment. The oxides will be
selected from carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Impact on
people and the environment is limited to the effects of global warming,
photochemical smog and acid rain.
5
For achievement with excellence, the discussion will include the relationship between
the properties of non-metals and their compounds, and their importance.
6
Balanced equations for reactions may be required, where appropriate.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
Number
AS90173
Version
1
Page 3 of 3
Quality Assurance
1
Providers and Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by the Qualifications
Authority before they can register credits from assessment against achievement
standards.
2
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against
achievement standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those
achievement standards.
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0226
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016