Chemistry A Level

What is Chemistry?

A-level Chemistry attempts to answer the big question “what is the world made of” and it’s the search for this answer that makes this subject so fascinating. From investigating how one substance can be changed drastically into another, to researching a new wonder drug to save millions of lives, the opportunities that chemistry provides are endless.

Why Study Chemistry?

Chemistry A-level is a highly respected A-level, with its broad variety of tested skills, and it is a good choice for many degrees and careers. Chemistry has been described as the ‘central science’ and is often combined with either physics or biology. Studying chemistry can help you understand the world around you and the different substances in it. This is an excellent course if you are looking to study science at university, including medicine, chemistry, biochemistry, physics and biology and most other healthcare-related courses. You will enjoy this course if you have a strong maths background and enjoy learning about how everyday substances around us are made and behave. You will also develop essential skills in numeracy, logical thinking and practical experimentation.

During the first AS year, we cover topic areas such as: atoms, molecules, ions and compounds, chemical equations, oxidation and reduction, bonding, intermolecular forces, shapes of molecules, energetics, kinetics and equilibria before moving onto inorganic chemistry which covers trends in the alkaline earth metals and the halogens. We also study the basic concepts of organic chemistry, including how to name organic molecules and study the properties and reactions of alkanes, alkenes, haloalkanes and alcohols.

In the second year we cover topic areas such as: acids and bases, pH, buffers, transition metals, electrochemistry and further organic chemistry which includes: aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, aromatic chemistry, amines and polymers. We then study the different analytical methods to identify unknown organic substances.

Why study chemistry?

By studying chemistry students can open up a wide range of careers that offer both a rewarding and innovative occupation and one that will be in demand regardless of the economic situation.

For many university courses such as: chemical engineering, medicine and related fields, dentistry, veterinary medicine, biochemistry, pharmacy, forensic science and the many different career pathways associated with chemistry, it is considered an essential A level to have.

If you don’t already have a career in mind and enjoy problem solving and working with graphs and data tables and enjoy laboratory practical work and have an acceptable level of mathematical skills, then it might just be the A level for you.

Please click on the following link for this information.

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/chemistry-7404-7405/specification-at-a-glance

AS and first year of A-level

1. Physical chemistry Including atomic structure, amount of sub

stance, bonding, energetics, kinetics, chemical equilibria and Le

Chatelier’s principle.

2. Inorganic chemistry Including periodicity, Group 2 the alkaline

earth metals, Group 7(17) the halogens.

3. Organic chemistry Including introduction to organic chemistry,

alkanes, halogenoalkanes, alkenes, alcohols, organic analysis.

Second year of A-level

1. Physical chemistry Including thermodynamics, rate equations, the

equilibrium constant Kp, electrode potentials and electrochemical

cells.

2. Inorganic chemistry Including properties of Period 3 elements and

their oxides, transition metals, reactions of ions in aqueous solution.

3. Organic chemistry Including optical isomerism, aldehydes and ke

tones, carboxylic acids and derivatives, aromatic chemistry,

amines, polymers, amino acids, proteins and DNA, organic synthesis, NMR spectroscopy, chromatography.

The Academy’s general entry criteria of a minimum of five 4s at GCSE applies, including English Language. A minimum of 5 in Chemistry GCSE (or two grade 5s if you have done double award science at GCSE) and a grade 5 in Maths, is needed to study Chemistry at A Level.

Chemistry is exciting, there’s no doubt about it. As one of the three main branches of science, its impact is wide-reaching and impressive. Through chemistry we have made great discoveries, such as penicillin and pasteurisation, and made the modern world possible with inventions including plastic and lithium ion batteries. Chemistry plays a role in almost every action on earth, and in every object we touch. It’s the study of substances, and their composition, structure, and properties.