Chemistry

Course summary

Year 12 Physical Chemistry – atomic structure, bonding, energetics, kinetics, chemical equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s principle. Inorganic Chemistry – the periodic table, Group 2 (the Alkaline Earth Metals) and Group 7 (the Halogens). Organic Chemistry – alkanes, alkenes, halogenoalkanes, alcohols, organic analysis. Year 13 Physical Chemistry – thermodynamics, rate equations, equilibrium constant, electrochemistry. Inorganic Chemistry – Period 3 elements and their oxides, transition metals, reactions of ions in aqueous solution. Organic Chemistry – Optical Isomerism, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, amines, polymers, amino acids, proteins, DNA, organic synthesis, nmr spectroscopy, chromatography. Practical Skills are assessed throughout the course. Students complete twelve ‘required practicals’ during the A Level. You will steadily improve your practical skills, becoming proficient at planning and carrying out experiments safely, and you will be able to analyse and interpret your results, drawing relevant conclusions. Practical skills are graded as Pass or Fail.