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What does this qualification cover?

Ever wondered why ice floats, why people put salt on icy roads, why onions make you cry, why asprin stops pain in your body and can you turn lead into gold? A level Chemistry has the answers.

Students gain an exciting and fascinating insight into the world of Chemistry. The course covers the core concepts of Chemistry and practical skills and the impact it has on industry. research and how that links to everyday life. More generally, studying this subject at post 16 will provide you with a solid grounding in critical and analytical thinking, writing reports with clear communication skills as well as honing your teamworking and practical laboratory skills.

The course allows students to explore the building blocks of atoms, compounds and molecules and the periodic table to a greater level as well as periodicity amd the key properties of certain groups. Students will discover polymers and organic synthesis and the uses of these as well as the impact on the environment. The course takes an look into acid-base and redox reactions and how these can be used.

The course also takes an in-depth look at rates of reaction and equilibrium and the ecomonical and environmental impacts of them. Research and analytical techniques such as infra red spectroscopy and chromatography are investigated at.

You will study six modules over the two years of the course. Module 1 consists of practical skills which are integrated throughout modules two to six and you will build up a portfolio of evidence that you have achieved competency in a series of practical, researching and reporting skills. Knowledge of these experimental procedures and practical skills will also be assessed through examination.

What's Included

  • Atoms, compounds, molecules and equations
  • Amount of substance
  • Acid-base and redox reactions
  • Electron, bonding and structure
  • The periodic table and periodicity
  • Grouop 2 and the halogens
  • Reaction rates and equilibrium
  • pH and buffers
  • Enthalpy, entropy and free energy
  • Redox and electrode potentials
  • Transition elements
  • Organic chemistry
  • Polymers
  • Organic synthesis
  • Analytical techniques (IR and MS)
  • Chromatography and spectroscopy (NMR)
What's Included

Key Features

Interesting and challenging learning experience linking key chemical ideas and understanding how they relate to each other.

Developing transferable skills that are useful outside of scientific study and directly applicable to the world of work including:

  • Investigative skills
  • Problem solving
  • Research
  • Decision making
  • Mathematical skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Communication skills

The practical aspect allows students to become competent in following procedures, investigative approaches using a range of scientific instruments and equipment, working safely, making and recording observations.

Key Features

Links to workplace

By choosing to study A Level chemistry as part of your programme of study you will gain access to a wide range of potential courses at University related to healthcare such as medicine, pharmacy and dentistry.

Gaining A Level chemistry can also be useful in the fields of:

  • Forensics
  • Environmental protection
  • The police and emergency services (e,g. paramedic, crime scene investigator or police officer)
  • And many other potential careers.
Links to workplace