Chemistry

Course summary

A Level Chemistry poses questions about the variety of materials around us. The course develops and extends the themes studied at GCSE but also introduces new topics such as, Synthesis of Organic Molecules and Spectroscopy. Learners base their studies around thought provoking practical work and related theory. The focus on the first year of the A Level course is on depth and breadth in Chemistry, and topics studied include ideas which are fundamental to Chemistry, such as the Periodic Table, Atomic Structure, Enthalpy changes, Moles and Masses. In the second year of the course, the study of Organic Chemistry develops further as we investigate the science of Arenes, Carboxylic Acids and Amines, Polymers, Synthetic routes and more analytical techniques. We also study physical Chemistry topics such as Equilibrium constants, Buffers, Reaction Kinetics, Gaseous Equilibrium and Thermodynamics. A Level Chemistry also contains practical tasks designed to develop students’ technical, investigative and analytical skills. Although there is no longer a requirement to assess practical skills formally at A Level, there will be a high emphasis on development of skills necessary to achieve a Pass grade in the Practical Endorsement.