Chemistry

Course summary

A Level Chemistry attempts to answer the big question ‘What is the world made of’. 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. Do you want to be objective, analytical and methodical? Are you a good problem solver? The study of chemistry will allow you to apply these skills outside academia and will help you understand current events in the news about petrol, environmental issues, health and product scares, drug development and much more. The course is made up of three strands of Chemistry: Physical, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry. In the first year, you will learn about atomic structure, chemical bonding, energetics, kinetics, and periodicity, and you will be introduced to organic chemistry the building block of life. In the second year, you will build on your knowledge from year 1 and learn about thermodynamics, and properties of the Period 3 elements and transition metals and you will further enhance your knowledge of organic chemistry leading to learning about the chemistry of amino acids, proteins, DNA and organic synthesis. Chemistry is a practical subject. Throughout the course, you will carry out practical activities including: measuring energy changes in chemical reactions, studying electrochemical cells, and preparing organic solids and liquids.