DEFINED COMPETENCY DETAILS

Competency Area:
Technical Skills
Level of Training:
Level 4 (Board Qualification)
Knowledge/Skill Area: Basic Chemistry and Physics
Performance Standard:
1. Describe the 3 states of matter and the various ways elements can be
combined.
Assessment Criteria:
The operations technician must be able to:
1.1
List the 3 states of matter and the characteristics of each.
1.2
Explain the difference between a mixture and a compound.
1.3
Describe 2 types of chemical bonds.
1.4
Explain the difference between a physical change and a chemical change.
Performance Standard:
2. Demonstrate knowledge of basic organic chemistry.
Assessment Criteria:
The operations technician must be able to:
2.1
Describe the characteristics of the main hydrocarbon at your plant.
2.2
Define solute, solvent, solution, suspension, filtration and distillation.
2.3
Write the chemicals equations for the following;
2.31, Nitrogen + Ammonia Ammonia
2.32, Ammonium Hydroxide +hydrochloric acid Ammonium Chloride
+Water
2.33, Calcium carbonate + hydrochloric acid Calcium Chloride +water
+ carbon Dioxide.
2.34, Write the chemical formulae and calculate the molecular weight of
sodium carbonate, carbon dioxide, paraxylene, acetic acid, and terephthalic acid.
2.4
What is a reversible reaction and what factors affect the equilibrium of a
reversible reaction?
Performance Standard:
3. Describe the basic chemical reactions in P-xylene oxidation and
hydrogenation in PTA Purification.

Assessment Criteria:
The operations technician must be able to:
3.1 Explain the basic requirement for oxidation to happen in Oxidation
reactor.
3.2 Write the Chemical formula for the oxidation of PX to PTA.
3.3 Write the chemical formula for MeAc formation and MeAc hydrolysis.
3.4 Explain the basic requirement for hydrogenation to happen in PTA
reactor.
3.5 Write the Chemical formula for 4CBA reduction to p-toluic by H2.
3.6 What factors affect the rate of a chemical reaction?

Performance Standard:
4 Demonstrate knowledge of basic physics.
Assessment Criteria:
The operations technician must be able to:
4.1
Explain the following terms: matter, energy, and motion.
Performance Standard:
5 Describe the effects and inter-relationship of pressure, temperature and
volume of gases.
Assessment Criteria:
The operations technician must be able to:
5.1 Explain the relationships between pressure, temperature and volume.
5.2 Explain the principles of Boyles Law (Pressure vs. Temperature).
5.3 Explain the principles of Charles Law (Temperature vs. Volume).
5.4 Explain the principles of the general gas law (PV/T = K).
5.5 Define force, pressure, speed and acceleration.
5.6 A water column of 15metres will exert a pressure of how many
5.61 Kgf/cm2
5.62 Bar
5.63 cm of Mercury.
5.7 What is the mass of 141m3 of PX of density 0.865?