KS5

KeyStage 5 – A Level Chemistry

A Level Course followed – AQA Chemistry (7405)

Why choose Chemistry?

Chemistry is second only to Maths as a student choice at A level. A small majority of students have ambitions to study a university course associated with healthcare, but many others choose because they have enjoyed their studies at GCSE.

The course begins with about 12 weeks study of Foundation Chemistry topics that are used throughout the course. After that we have chosen a teaching order that hopefully allows a good balance between theory and practical. We have also decided to interleave topics from the Physical, Organic and Inorganic strands of the syllabus.

The Teaching Order is liable to change depending upon timetabling restrictions and teacher availability. If you treat the following as more a guideline than a rule:

Year 12

	TOPIC - TEACHER A	TOPIC - TEACHER B	PRACTICAL/ASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITIES
HT1	Atomic Structure Fundamental Particles Mass number/Isotopes Electron Config	Bonding Ionic bonding Covalent and Dative bonding Metallic bonding Bonding & physical properties Bond polarity Shapes of molecules Intermolecular forces
HT1	Amount of Substance Mr and Ar The mole and Avogadro’s Constant Ideal Gas equation Empirical/Molecular formula Balanced Eqns and associated calcs		Make standard solution Titration(s) Find conc of unknown acid Find Mr of unknown bicarbonate et., etc Carry on doing titrations to minimise the grind and break up the theory End of Half term assessment
HT2	Continue with Amount of Substance	Continue with Bonding Energetics Enthalpy change Calorimetry Hess’s Law and associated calcs Bond enthalpies	Teacher A - Req’d practical 1 Standard solution and titration Teacher B - Required Practical 3 Calorimetry END of Term test on all content
HT3	Kinetics Collision Theory Maxwell Boltzmann Curves Temp and rate Conc/Pressure and rateCatalysts and rate	Introduction to Organic Chemistry Nomenclature Isomerism	Enthalpy of neut practicals Enthalpy of CuSO4/Fe filings Teacher A - Required Practical 2 Rate of Reaction
	Chemical equilibria and Le Chatelier Chemical equilibria and Le ChatelierEquilibrium constant Kc	Alkanes Fract Dist of Crude Oil Cracking Combustion Chlorination (with mech)	Disappearing cross Acid/carbonate (we have a LOT of marble chips) There is an expt. To determine Kc for an esterification reaction. This adds to likely teaching time. You could demo distillation with our ‘crude oil’. You might wish to use Quick Fit to separate a water fluorescein mix
	Redox Oxidation/Reduction half equations	Halo Alkanes Nuc Subs mech Elimination with mech Ozone depletion	Teacher A - Option to perform redox titrations despite them being a year 2 prac. End of half term assessment
HT4	Group 7 Oxidising power Reducing power Displacement Tests for halides	Alkenes Structure bonding and reactivity Addition reactions with mech. Addition Polymers	Teacher A – Required Practical 4 Analysis of anions Teacher B – Required Practical 5 Preparation of a liquid organic
HT5	Y12 MOCK EXAM
	Go through exam upon their return	Electrode Potentials and Cells Electrode Potentials Electrochemical cells Commercial applications of electrochemical cells	Teacher B – Required Practical 8 Electrochemical cells
	Thermodynamics Born-Haber cycles Gibbs Free energy
HT6	Kp – Mole Fractions Partial pressures Kp expression and units Effects of catalyst on Kp Calculations	Year 2 Kinetics Rate equations Arrhenius equation Determination of rate equations
HT6	Periodicity of Group 3 oxides Period 3 elements with water and trends Period 3 oxides with water and trends

YEAR 13

	TOPIC - TEACHER A	TOPIC - TEACHER B	POSSIBLE PRACTICAL/ASSESSMENT TASK
HT1	Year 2 Kinetics revision Kinetics Required Practicals Transition Metals General properties of TM’s Shapes of complex ions Formation of coloured ions Variable oxidation states Catalysis	Organic Year 2 Optical Isomerism Aldehydes and Ketones Carboxylic acids and derivatives	Teacher A – Required Practical 7a and 7b End of half term assessment
HT2	Substitution reactions Reactions of ions in Solution Organic Part 2 NMR	Acylation Aromatic Chemistry Amines	Teacher A-Required practical 11 Teacher B-Required practical 10 End of half term assessment
HT3	Organic Continued Chromatography Polymers	Acids and bases Bronsted-Lowry acids Define and calculate pH Ionic product of water	Y13 Mock exam is in this half term, usually towards the end Teacher A – Required Practical 12 Chromatography Teacher B – Required Practical 9 – pH curves with pH meter
HT4	Go through Y13 mock exam. Amino acids, proteins and DNAOrganic Synthesis	Weak acids and Ka pH curves, titrations and indicators Buffers	Org Synth could be done by either teacher.
HT4	Any remaining time should be used to ensure that all required practical data is submitted and doing catch up sessions	Any remaining time should be used to ensure that all required practical data is submitted and doing catch up sessions	Required Practical catch up if time allows. Obviously, the timing of Easter may affect when this is done exactly.
HT5	Revision	Revision