A Level Chemistry

The aims of this course are to encourage students to:

Develop essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of the subject and how they relate to each other

Develop and demonstrate a deep appreciation of the skills, knowledge and understanding of scientific methods

Develop competence and confidence in a variety of practical, mathematical and problem solving skills

Develop interest in and enthusiasm for the subject, including developing an interest in further study and careers associated with the subject

Understand how society makes decisions about scientific issues and how the sciences contribute to the success of the economy and society

Students will study 6 modules:

Module 1: Development of practical skills in chemistry

• Practical skills assessed in a written examination

• Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement

Module 2: Foundations in chemistry

• Atomic structure

• Structures and bonding

• Amount of substance

Module 3: Periodic table and energy

• Trends in the Periodic table

• Energy changes in reactions

• Equilibrium

Module 4: Core organic chemistry

• Drawing and naming structures

• Homologous series to include alkanes, alkenes, alcohols and halogenoalkanes

• Reaction mechanisms

• Analysis of compounds to include mass spectrometry and infra red spectroscopy

Module 5: Physical chemistry and transition elements

• • Reaction rates

• Equilibrium

• Acids and bases

• Enthalpy, entropy and free energy

• Redox and electrode potentials

• Transition elements

Module 6: Organic chemistry and analysis

• Practical techniques

• Polymers

• Homologous series to include carboxylic acids, amines, amides and acyl chlorides

• Aromatic chemistry of benzene and related molecules

• NMR analysis of carbon and hydrogen

Assessment is by written examination (please see table below). The development of practical skills also plays a significant role in the course and will be assessed through written examinations and the practical endorsement that will be graded as a pass or fail.

5 GCSEs grade 5 or above, one of which must be Maths. Must have grade 6s or above in combined Science GCSEs or Chemistry GCSE plus one other science subject.