CHEMISTRY

Units 1 & 2 (Year 11) – Foundation Topics

Unit 1: How Can the Diversity of Materials Be Explained?

Atomic Structure and Periodicity

  • Atomic theory and subatomic particles

  • Electron configuration and orbitals

  • Periodic trends (atomic radius, ionisation energy, electronegativity)

  • Isotopes and relative atomic mass

Bonding and Properties of Materials

  • Ionic, covalent, and metallic bonding

  • Intermolecular forces (dispersion forces, dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonding)

  • Properties of ionic, covalent, and metallic substances

  • Polarity and solubility

Nanomaterials

  • Nanoparticles and their applications

  • Surface area-to-volume ratio

  • Impacts of nanotechnology

Unit 2: How Do Chemical Reactions Shape the Natural World?

Types of Reactions

  • Combustion, precipitation, acid-base, redox reactions

  • Balancing chemical equations

  • Law of conservation of mass

Stoichiometry and Quantitative Chemistry

  • Mole concept and Avogadro’s number

  • Molar mass and empirical/molecular formulas

  • Limiting reactants and excess reactants

  • Percentage composition and percentage yield

Solutions and Acids/Bases

  • Concentration calculations (molarity, ppm, ppb)

  • pH scale and calculations

  • Strength vs. concentration of acids and bases

  • Neutralisation reactions

Units 3 & 4 (Year 12) – Advanced Topics

Unit 3: How Can Chemical Processes Be Designed to Optimise Efficiency?

Thermodynamics

  • Exothermic vs. endothermic reactions

  • Enthalpy changes and Hess’s Law

  • Heat of reaction, combustion, and formation

Electrochemistry

  • Galvanic cells and standard electrode potentials

  • Electrolytic cells and electrolysis

  • Faraday’s laws of electrolysis

  • Rechargeable batteries and fuel cells

Reaction Rates and Equilibrium

  • Collision theory and activation energy

  • Factors affecting reaction rate (temperature, concentration, pressure, catalysts)

  • Le Chatelier’s Principle

  • Equilibrium constant (KcK_cKc​) and calculations

Unit 4: How Are Organic Compounds Categorised, Analysed and Used?

Organic Chemistry

  • Hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes)

  • Functional groups (alcohols, amines, carboxylic acids, esters)

  • Polymerisation (addition and condensation polymers)

  • Structural isomerism and stereochemistry

Chemical Analysis

  • Chromatography (TLC, GC, HPLC)

  • Spectroscopy (IR, NMR, mass spectrometry)

  • Qualitative vs. quantitative analysis

Biochemistry and Green Chemistry

  • Biomolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids)

  • Enzymes and their function

  • Sustainable chemistry practices

‹ PHYSICS

BIOLOGY ›