KS5 - Chemistry

A Level (AQA)

Chemistry is the study of matter, its properties and how it reacts. The course also leads on to the application of chemistry within the modern chemical industry.

Students cover a broad range of chemistry topics across the two years including:

Physical Chemistry – atomic structure, amount of substance, bonding, energetics, kinetics, chemical equilibria and Le Chatelier’s principle, electrode potentials and electrochemical cells.

Inorganic Chemistry – periodicity, Group 2 the alkaline earth metals, Group 7(17) the halogens, Period 3 elements and their oxides, transition metals and reactions of ions in aqueous solution.

Organic Chemistry – introduction to organic chemistry, organic analysis, optical isomerism, aromatic chemistry, amines, polymers, amino acids, proteins and DNA, organic synthesis, NMR spectroscopy and chromatography.

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT

Students will be assessed throughout the course, via end of topic assessments, as well as the formal calendared mock examinations for the whole sixth form.

EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT

AS topics are assessed in two exams of 1 hour and 30 minutes in duration. A level study will involve sitting three exams, 2 hours each in duration, at the end of the second year.

PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT

Practical work is at the heart of chemistry and has been built into the new specification as required practicals; assessed as part of written exams at the end of AS and A Level. A separate endorsement of practical skills is also assessed by teachers throughout the course.

a level chemistry detailed course breakdown.pdf