Chemistry

1.1 The nature of substances and chemical reactions

• Atoms make up elements
• Avogadro constant and the mole
• Balanced symbol equations
• Calculating formula from reacting masses
• Chemical symbols and formulae
• Chromatographic data and Rf values
• Compounds
• Conservation of mass in reactions
• Diagrams of simple molecules
• Elements as building blocks
• Evidence of chemical reaction
• Formulae of ionic compoundsFoundation
• Mixtures and physical separation
• Percentage composition of compoundsHigher
• Percentage yield
• Reacting mass calculations
• Relative atomic and formula mass
• Word equations

1.2 Atomic structure and the Periodic Table

• Atomic number, mass number, isotope
• Atomic structure (nucleus and electrons)
• Atoms have no overall charge
• Calculating relative atomic mass from isotopes
• Counting subatomic particlesFoundation
• Electron structure and Periodic Table position
• Electronic structures of first 20 elements
• Flame tests and ion tests
• Group 0 noble gases
• Group 1 and Group 7 trends in properties
• Halogen displacement
• Halogens with alkali metals and iron
• Loss/gain of electrons forming ions
• Metals and non-metals in the Periodic Table
• Periodic Table organisationHigher
• Properties and uses of chlorine and iodine
• Protons and neutrons in nucleus
• Reactions of alkali metals
• Reactivity trends in Groups 1 and 7
• Relative masses and charges of subatomic particles
• Specified practical: identifying unknown ionic compounds
• Test for hydrogen gas

1.3 Water

• Composition of natural water
• Desalination of sea water
• Determining solubility
• Distillation of miscible liquidsFoundation
• Fluoridation of water
• Hardness of water
• Health benefits and drawbacks of hard water
• Interpreting solubility curvesHigher
• Public water treatment
• Specified practical: hardness of water
• Sustainable water supply
• Temporary vs permanent hardness
• Water softening methods

1.4 The ever-changing Earth

• Air as a source of gases
• Carbon cycle gas balanceFoundation
• Composition of atmosphere over time
• Formation of original atmosphere
• Plate boundaries
• Plate tectonics theory
• Pollutants from fossil fuels
• Structure of the Earth
• Tackling global warming and acid rainHigher
• Tests for oxygen and carbon dioxide

1.5 Rate of chemical change

• Catalysts in reactions
• Enzymes as biological catalysts
• Factors affecting rate
• Methods of measuring rate of reaction
• Particle theory of rate
• Specified practical: HCl and sodium thiosulfate
• Specified practical: rate of reaction by gas collection
• Uses of enzymesFoundation

1.6 Limestone

• Lime cycle
• Limestone, quicklime, slaked lime
• Quarrying limestone
• Specified practical: thermal stabilities of carbonates
• Thermal decomposition of metal carbonates
• Uses of limestone

2.1 Bonding, structure and properties

• Bulk vs nanoscale propertiesHigher
• Carbon allotropes
• Covalent bond formation
• Giant ionic structures
• Ionic bond formation
• Metallic bonding model
• Properties of structures
• Risks of nanoparticles
• Simple molecular substancesFoundation
• Smart materials
• Uses of nanoparticles

2.2 Acids, bases and salts

• Acid + metal reactions
• Acid/carbonate testFoundation
• Concentration in mol/dm3
• Dilute/concentrated vs strong/weak acids
• Hydrogen and hydroxide ions
• Insoluble salt preparation
• Naming salts of common acidsHigher
• Neutralisation as ionic reaction
• Neutralisation calculations
• Neutralisation with bases and carbonates
• pH scale and acid/alkali strength
• Soluble salt preparation
• Specified practical: soluble salt preparation
• Specified practical: titration
• Strong vs weak acid reactions
• Sulfate ion test
• Titration

2.3 Metals and their extraction

• Alloys
• Aluminium extractionHigher
• Blast furnace iron extraction
• Displacement and competition reactions
• Electrolysis of aqueous copper(II) chloride
• Electrolysis of competing-ion solutions
• Electrolysis of molten compoundsFoundation
• Electrolysis of water
• Industrial uses of electrolysis
• Native metals and reactivity-extraction link
• Ores as metal sources
• Properties and uses of metals
• Redox by electrons
• Redox by oxygen
• Specified practical: aqueous electrolysis and electroplating
• Specified practical: metal reactivity by displacement
• Sustainability of extraction
• Tests for transition metal ions
• Transition metals

2.4 Chemical reactions and energy

• Activation energy
• Bond energy calculations
• Energy profiles
• Exothermic and endothermic reactions

2.5 Crude oil, fuels and organic chemistry

• Addition polymerisation
• Addition reactions of alkenes
• Alkane and alkene general formulae
• Combustion of hydrocarbonsFoundation
• Cracking
• Crude oil as hydrocarbon mixture
• Energy from burning fuel
• Ethanol as solvent and fuel
• Ethanol in alcoholic drinks
• Fermentation to produce ethanol
• Fire triangle
• Fractional distillation of crude oil
• Fractions and boiling points
• Hydrogen as a fuelHigher
• Infrared spectroscopy
• Isomerism
• Microbial oxidation of ethanol
• Naming and formulae for alcohols
• Naming and formulae for simple alkanes/alkenes
• Naming complex alkanes and alkenes
• Oil industry impact
• Plastic disposal issues
• Properties and uses of plastics
• Specified practical: energy released by a fuel
• Test for alcohols
• Trends in fraction properties

2.6 Reversible reactions, industrial processes and important chemicals

• Choosing conditions for ammonia
• Concentrated sulfuric acid as dehydrating agent
• Contact process
• Fertilisers and waterways
• Haber process
• Nitrogenous fertilisersHigher
• Reversible reactions
• Test for ammonia gas
• Test for ammonium ions
• Uses of sulfuric acidFoundation

Practical task

• Scientific Enquiry practical task

Written task

• Scientific Enquiry written task