A Level Chemistry
A Level Chemistry gives you the opportunity to build on your GCSE knowledge. The course is a big step up but you’re rewarded with rich and varied areas of study. A Level Chemistry allows you to study the very building blocks of life and how they interact with one another. You will study atomic structure and bonding, the Periodic Table, alcohols, hydrocarbons, alkanes and chemical equilibrium, amongst others. The units follow a logical structure with an introduction to Science. You will then move on to study Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry. The modules are designed to help you familiarise yourself with essential concepts in Chemistry in an organised, step-by-step way.
Overview
A Level Chemistry gives you the opportunity to build on your GCSE knowledge. The course is a big step up but you’re rewarded with rich and varied areas of study. A Level Chemistry allows you to study the very building blocks of life and how they interact with one another. You will study atomic structure and bonding, the Periodic Table, alcohols, hydrocarbons, alkanes and chemical equilibrium, amongst others. The units follow a logical structure with an introduction to Science. You will then move on to study Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry. The modules are designed to help you familiarise yourself with essential concepts in Chemistry in an organised, step-by-step way.
Chemistry is an impressive subject to have on a CV – highly respected by universities and employers alike. It shows a depth of learning that requires numerous skills of its students; maths, scientific reasoning, written and spoken communication and practicality among many others. It is for this reason that Chemistry is considered a highly academic subject that keeps many of life’s “doors” open to you.
Entry Requirements
Although the A Level Chemistry programmes build on the course content of GCSE, it is not necessary to have this qualification before undertaking an A-Level. However, in order to meet the demands of the course, it is recommended that candidates have literacy and communication skills equivalent to C or higher at GCSE. Please note that full tutor support is still provided throughout your course duration. All students must be 16 years of age or above.
Study Hours Required
Approximately 350 hours.
Examination Information
Students are required to arrange and pay for their A Level Chemistry EdExcel examinations and manage the course work element if the subject requires this. Students must check the relevant examination board website for further information and final examination sitting dates for the specification. All examinations are held during the May / June exam period of every year.
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Unit 1 Atomic Structure & the Periodic Table
Atomic Structure & Periodic Table – The course starts with a look at the atom, the building blocks of chemistry. We discover the subatomic particles that make up an atom and look at how mass spectrometry is used to determine molecular masses.
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Unit 2 Bonding & Structure
Bonding & Structure – This unit develops on understanding atomic structure and looks more at molecules and the types of bonding witnessed in different types of molecule. Previous study of ions is developed and we explore radii and other physical properties and the effects these have on the behaviour of atoms and ions.
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Unit 3 Redox I
Redox I – This unit is concerned with balancing equations and how the concept of oxidation numbers can provide a very efficient tool in this area.
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Unit 4 Inorganic Chemistry & the Periodic Table
Inorganic Chemistry and the Periodic Table – A more detailed look at some of the groups of the periodic table. Discover the elements of group 1 and 2 as well as the halogen gases of group 7. Learn more about these groups and how their physical properties decide their external characteristics.
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Unit 5 Formulae, Equations & Amounts of Substance
Formulae, Equations and Amounts of Substance– Discover the concept of the “mole” and meet Avogadro’s constant, as well as calculating reacting masses and volumes and identifying both empirical and molecular formulae.
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Unit 8 Energetics I
Energetics – the units on energetics learn to use Hess’s law to calculate otherwise immeasurable energy changes in chemical reactions as well as discovering bon enthalpies, before being introduced to lattice energies and the concept of entropy and how scientists use this idea of “chaos” and “order” to answer important questions about chemical stability.
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Unit 9 Kinetics I
Kinetics – The kinetics units in the A-Level course show the student how the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution and collision theory are key in the creation of models in chemistry and how they account for the different effects that changing variables can have on the rate of a reaction. The later topic in this area explores the effects of catalysts on rates of reaction and introduces the mathematical expressions that describe rates of reaction.
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Unit 10 Equilibrium I
Equilibria – In this unit, discover the fact that many chemical reactions are completely reversible and the idea of dynamic equilibrium. Students will also learn how changing variables like temperature, concentration or pressure can affect the position of a reaction’s equilibrium. The equilibrium units continue to look at the maths behind equilibria, introducing Kp and Kc calculations as well as the equilibrium constant.
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Unit 11 Equilibrium II
Equilibria – In this unit, discover the fact that many chemical reactions are completely reversible and the idea of dynamic equilibrium. Students will also learn how changing variables like temperature, concentration or pressure can affect the position of a reaction’s equilibrium. The equilibrium units continue to look at the maths behind equilibria, introducing Kp and Kc calculations as well as the equilibrium constant.
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Unit 12 Acid-Base Equilibria
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Unit 13 Energetics II
Energetics – the units on energetics learn to use Hess’s law to calculate otherwise immeasurable energy changes in chemical reactions as well as discovering bon enthalpies, before being introduced to lattice energies and the concept of entropy and how scientists use this idea of “chaos” and “order” to answer important questions about chemical stability.
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Unit 14 Redox II
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Unit 15 Transition Metals
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Unit 16 Kinetics II
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Unit 17 Organic Chemistry II
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Unit 18 Organic Chemistry III
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Unit 19 Modern Analytical Techniques II
Modern Analytical Techniques – The two units covering modern analytical techniques describe the key, cutting edge methods being employed in chemical analysis. Starting in the first topic with Mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy before, later in the course, expanding on mass spectrometry and then introducing nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and chromatography.
