CHEMISTRY – A LEVEL
CHEMISTRY
COURSE REQUIREMENTSCOURSE REQUIREMENTS:
GCSE Chemistry Grade 5 or GCSE Combined Science both Grade 5
with a Grade 5 GCSE Mathematics.
WHAT IS THE COURSE CONTENT AND HOW WILL I BE EXAMINED?
YEAR 12
Organic Chemistry – ‘Introduction to organic chemistry, alkanes and halogenoalkanes, alkenes, alcohols, organic analysis.
Physical Chemistry – Atomic structure, amount of substance, bonding, energetics, kinetics,
chemical equilibria & Le Chatelier’s principle and oxidation, reduction and redox
Inorganic Chemistry – Periodicity, Group 2- the alkaline earth metals and Group 7 (17), the halogens
YEAR 13
Organic Chemistry – Optical isomerism, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids and esters, aromatic
chemistry, amines, polymers, amino acids, proteins and DNA, organic synthesis, nuclear magnetic
resonance spectroscopy and chromatography.
Physical Chemistry – Thermodynamics, rate equations, equilibrium constant Kc, electrode potentials
& electrochemical cells and acids & bases
Inorganic Chemistry – Properties of period 3 elements and their oxides, transition metals and
reactions of ions in aqueous solutions.
There will be three, two hour examinations covering the content and practical skills learned during the course.
A-Level
Exam Board:
AQA
Contact details:
Head of department Mr T Brown
T.Brown@st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk@st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk
“I HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED STUDYING A LEVEL CHEMISTRY
AT ST NICHOLAS CATHOLIC SIXTH FORM. A LEVEL CHEMISTRY HAS ALLOWED
ME TO STUDY THE WORLD AT A MOLECULAR LEVEL. THE APPLICATIONS AND
OPPORTUNITIES THAT CHEMISTRY GIVES SEEMS TO BE ENDLESS AND THE
SKILLS LEARNT CAN BE APPLIED TO A PLETHORA OF INDUSTRIES.”
LUKE DEEGAN, YEAR 13 STUDENT
ST NICHOLAS EXTRA:
- A Level Chemistry students benefit from visiting a chemical facility where they experience how Chemistry is used on a large scale in industry.
- 12 required practicals, as well as several additional investigations will be completed by students over the two-year course.
- Students have the opportunity to compete in the UK Chemistry Olympiad; this is a unique chance for students to push themselves further, develop critical problem-solving skills, learn to think more creatively and get a chance to test their knowledge in new, real-world situations.
- All students are invited to participate in scheduled drop-in sessions to benefit from extra support and challenge from their experienced A Level Chemistry teachers.
