Chemistry A-Level

Course summary

Why choose Chemistry? Chemists get to ask some great questions, from “If I set this on fire what will happen?” to “If I combine these elements together in the right way can I create something totally new”? Chemists get to do some seriously cool stuff – and it's all part of the job Chemists conduct experiments to study how elements work in different conditions, test how they mix, and work out what they are made up of right down to the tiniest particle. The results can be groundbreaking, colourful, explosive, or almost impossible to see. Chemists use their experiments and knowledge to develop medicines, foods, fabrics and other materials, from neon lights to shatterproof glass. They also use it to understand the world around us, from why leaves change colour to discovering invisible pollutants in the air. Course Details The specification is divided into 19 topics, each covering different key concepts of chemistry: Modules you will study: ■ Topic 1: Atomic Structure and the PeriodicTable ■ Topic 2: Bonding and Structure ■ Topic 3: Redox I ■ Topic 4: Inorganic Chemistry and the Periodic Table The elements of Groups 1 and 2 The elements of Group 7 (halogens) Analysis of inorganic compounds ■ Topic 5: Equations and Amounts of Substance ■ Topic 6: Organic Chemistry I Introduction to organic chemistry Alkanes Alkenes Halogenoalkanes Alcohols ■ Topic 7: Modern Analytical Techniques I Mass spectrometry Infrared (IR) spectroscopy ■ Topic 8: Energetics I ■ Topic 9: Kinetics I ■ Topic 10: Equilibrium I ■ Topic 11: Equilibrium II ■ Topic 12: Acid-base Equilibria ■ Topic 13: Energetics II Lattice energy Entropy ■ Topic 14: Redox II ■ Topic 15: Transition Metals Principles of transition metal chemistry Reactions of transition metal elements ■ Topic 16: Kinetics II ■ Topic 17: Organic Chemistry II Chirality Carbonyl compounds Carboxylic acids ■ Topic 18: Organic Chemistry III Arenes - benzene Amines, amides, amino acids and proteins Organic Synthesis ■ Topic 19: Modern Analytical Technique Mass Spectrometry Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) Chromatography