Chemistry, A-level

What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course?
The course builds on the knowledge and understanding of the 360 GCSE Science programme. It is expected that students will have achieved a GCSE Grade B in both GCSE Science and GCSE Additional Science or equivalent. It will be very helpful to have at least a grade B in GCSE Mathematics as numeracy and mathematical skills are important in Chemistry. Communication is also important in Chemistry so you will need to be able to communicate effectively, be able to research and critically think about problems. You will learn theory and develop relevant practical skills throughout the course.

What will I learn on this A Level course?
The qualification aims to:

  • stimulate and sustain students’ interest in, and enjoyment of, chemistry
  • enables students to gain a knowledge and understanding of chemistry appropriate to AS/A level and to appreciate the inter-linking patterns which are a distinguishing feature of the subject
  • show the inter-relationship between the development of the subject and its application (social, economic, environmental and technological) and recognise the value of chemistry to society and how it may be used responsibly
  • develop students’ skills in laboratory procedures and techniques
  • develop students’ ability to acquire knowledge by means of practical work
  • provide opportunities for students to bring together knowledge of how different areas of chemistry relate to each other.

What kind of student is this qualification suitable for?

This qualification is suitable for students who:

  • have an interest in, and enjoyment of chemistry
  • enjoy carrying out investigation by the application of imaginative, logical and critical thinking
  • want to use chemistry to support other qualifications or progress onto further study.

What examinations will I have to take to get my qualification?

AS Level
AS is short for Advanced Subsidiary. This is the first half of the A level course. It is a stepping-stone to the full A level qualification. You can take just the AS on its own, if you and your teacher agree that this is best for you. You can even decide at the end of the AS course whether to continue to take the full A level qualification.

Unit 1: The Core Principals of Chemistry
This Unit develops basic chemical skills including formulae writing; equation writing and calculating chemical quantities. It also introduces some basic chemical ideas including: enthalpy changes; atomic structure; chemical bonding (ionic, covalent and metallic) and organic chemistry (alkanes and alkenes).

Unit 2: Application of Core Principals of Chemistry
This unit develops some of the ideas in unit 1 and introduces more complex ideas including: chemical bonding (intermediate bonds); the periodic table (groups 2 and 7); redox reactions (with emphasis on group 7 compounds); rates of reaction; organic chemistry (halogenoalkanes and alcohols including mechanisms). Green chemistry and climate change are also included. Unit 3: Chemistry Laboratory Skills I Practical work in this unit covers the material contained in units 1 and 2.

A Level
The full A level qualification is made up of the AS units plus three more units which are studied at a higher level. You don’t necessarily have to take the full A level qualification; you can still get a certificate just for the AS, and your teacher will advise you on what is best. If you do decide to take the second half of the course it will cover the three units described below.

Unit 4: General Principals of Chemistry I – Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry
This unit builds upon the work of the first year and fosters a deeper understanding of the subject. Topics studies include: quantitative chemical kinetics; entropy and equilibria; organic chemistry (carbonyls and carboxylic acids). Application of work from the first year is required including the ideas of nomenclature; isomerism; bond polarity and bond enthalpy; reagents and reaction conditions; formulae and balancing equations.

Unit 5: General Principals of Chemistry II – Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry
This unit again builds on previous work. Topics studied include: electrode potentials; oxidation number and redox half equations; transition metals; further organic chemistry (amines, amides, amino acids and proteins. There is a large synoptic element in this unit and students will be expected to apply all of the knowledge built up in previous units. Unit 6: Chemistry Laboratory Skills II The practical work in this unit covers the material contained in units 4 and 5.

How can I develop my full range of skills by doing this qualification?
As well as covering advanced level study of Chemistry, this course will enable you to develop some skills, which will be essential to you whatever you go on to do afterwards. Examples of the skills you can develop during this course are:

Communication

  • Taking part in discussions on topical issues
  • Preparing written documents for your practical work
  • Using reference materials from books, CD-ROMs and the Internet

Application of number

  • Planning to collect results from experiments and presenting them in a suitable format
  • Carrying out calculations on the data collected in experiments
  • Interpreting the results from experiments and seeing how this relates to your plan

Information technology

  • Using word processing software to present written reports and prepare presentations
  • Planning and designing a spreadsheet to support your experiments, be able to select a suitable graphical format to show trends and patterns in your data

Problem solving

  • Planning an investigation to look at tests to distinguish between primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols

Working with others

  • Planning an investigation, to involve all members of the group, to study the effect of temperature, pressure and concentration on the position of equilibrium
  • A team presentation of a poster to show the use of ammonia, nitric acid and sulphuric acid in the manufacture of inorganic fertilisers

Improving own learning and performance

  • Working out a timetable with targets to improve your practical skills
  • Monitoring the marks awarded for written reports

What could I go on to do at the end of my course?

Chemistry leads on to a wide range of degree courses leading on to a career in Chemistry, Medicine, Pharmacy, Environmental Sciences, Dentistry, to name but a few. Chemistry is known as ‘the central science’ and the analytical skills and knowledge developed in studying it, are valued for admission to courses such as Accountancy, Law and many others.