Year 13 AS Chemistry Curriculum Plan
September 2009
This builds upon the work met at AS Level.
Outline of the Course
The course we will be following is the AQA Specification Advanced GCE in Chemistry.
You may find it useful to use the student message board for answering A2 questions.
The A2 section of the specification is divided into three units; CHEM 4: Further Physical and organic chemistry and CHEM 5: Thermodynamics and Further Inorganic Chemistry. These two units are examined in a standard fashion. Unit 6T is an internally marked practical examination. Modules are examined as shown in the table below:
| Unit | Module date |
| CHEM 4: Further Physical and organic chemistry | January Year 13 |
| CHEM 5: Thermodynamics and Further Inorganic Chemistry | June Year 13 |
| Unit 6T: Internal assessment | Jan-Feb Year13 |
Practical Assessment
Practical is an integral part of the course. The internal assessment units 3T and 6T carry a practical assessment mark (4.8% of AS mark) and you will be given many opportunities to develop your skills.
Mathematical Skills Required
The mathematical skills required at Advanced Level Chemistry are such that students with a pass at GCSE will be able to cope with the mathematics required. A confident use of number is the best grounding a student can have if he or she is to cope with the mathematical demands of this subject.
The following summarises the mathematical requirements in Advanced Level Chemistry:
• General use of a calculator.
• Simple averages for titration values.
• Writing numbers to three significant figures.
• Ability to re-arrange and use formulae.
• Understanding of powers of 10.
• General graph plotting skills.
• Use of logs in the calculation of pH.
A significant number of students DO NOT study Advanced Level Mathematics yet are confident in the numerical aspects of the subject at this level. Should you continue with the study of Chemistry at university, mathematics becomes a desirable and sometimes necessary requirement but university departments offer a course of study to allow students to acquire these additional mathematical skills
CHEM 4: Further Physical and Organic Chemistry
Beginning September 2009: Taught by PAL and CMJ
This unit develops the concepts of physical chemistry introduced in the foundation modules. Kinetics and equilibria are both treated quantitatively. Acids, bases and buffer solutions and the changes in pH during titrations are considered.
The study of organic chemistry is extended to include compounds containing the carbonyl group, aromatic compounds, amines, amino acids and polymers. The final section examines the way in which spectroscopic techniques are used to determine the molecular formulae and structures of organic compounds. The emphasis is on problem solving rather than on spectroscopic theory.
Kinetics: PAL to be completed by 30/9/10
• Simple rate equations.
• Determination of rate equation.
Equilibria: PAL to be completed by 30/10/09
• Equilibrium constants Kc for homogeneous systems.
• Qualitative effects of changes of pressure, temperature and concentration.
Acids and Bases: PAL to be completed by 15/12/09
• Brønsted-Lowry acid-base equilibria in aqueous solution.
• Definition and determination of pH.
• The ionic product of water, Kw.
• Weak acids and bases.
• Ka for weak acids.
• pH curves, titrations and indicators.
• Buffer action.
Nomenclature and Isomerism in Organic Chemistry: CMJ to be completed by 15/9/09
• Naming organic compounds and the functional groups listed in this module and in AS Module 3.
• Isomerism. Including optical isomerism
Compounds Containing the Carbonyl Group: CMJ to be completed by 30/10/09
• Aldehydes and ketones.
• Carboxylic acids and esters.
• Acylation.
Aromatic Chemistry: CMJ to be completed by 15/11/09
• Friedel-Crafts reactions.
• Base properties.
Amines and amino acids: CMJ to be completed by 30/11/09
• Amino Acids.
• Proteins.
• Polymers.
Aromatic Chemistry and Plastics.
Organic Synthesis and Analysis: CMJ to be completed by 20/12/09
• Mass spectrometry.
• Infra red spectroscopy.
• Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Module 5: Thermodynamics and Further Inorganic Chemistry
Beginning January 2010: Taught by CMJ and PAL
Energetics, introduced in CHEM 2, is extended into thermodynamics by the introduction of entropy and free energy. Chemical properties of elements and compounds of Period 3 are studied to illustrate periodic trends. The study of redox chemistry reactions in CHEM 2 is extended to include electrode potentials and their use to predict the direction of simple redox reactions. The characteristic properties of transition metal complexes are studied including their use in industry, as catalysts and in medicine. The reactions of metal ions in aqueous solution are systematised through an understanding of hydrolysis and substitution reactions of selected metal aqua ions.
At the beginning of this module CMJ will spend time preparing students to sit the Unit 6T Internal assessment
Thermodynamics: CMJ to be completed by 30/3/10
• Enthalpy change.
• Free-energy change and entropy change.
Redox Equilibria: CMJ to be completed by 15/4/10
• Variable oxidation state.
• Electrode potentials.
• Electrochemical series.
Redox Equilibria
Periodicity: CMJ to be completed by 30/4/10
• Study of the reactions of Period 3 elements Na to Ar to illustrate periodic trends.
• A survey of the acid-base properties of the oxides of Period 3 elements.
• A survey of the reactions of the chlorides of Period 3 elements with water.
Periodicity
Transition Metals: PAL to be completed by 30/3/10
• General properties of transition metals.
• Complex formation.
• Shapes of complex ions.
• Formation of coloured ions.
• Variable oxidation states.
• Catalysis.
• Other applications of transition metal complexes.
Transition Metals
Reactions of Inorganic Compounds in Aqueous Solution: PAL to be completed by 30/4/10
• Lewis acids and bases.
• Metal-aqua ions.
• Acidity or hydrolysis reactions.
