Chemistry
SPECIFIC AIMS OF THE DEPARTMENT
The Chemistry Department in Aquinas believes passionately about the teaching of Chemistry through practical means. We hope that during the courses you will:
• develop your knowledge and understanding of the material world.
• develop your understanding of the effects of chemistry on society.
• develop and apply your knowledge and understanding of the nature of Science and of the scientific process.
• develop your understanding of the relationships between hypotheses, evidence, theories and explanations.
• develop and apply your observational, practical, modelling, enquiry and problem-solving
skills and understanding in laboratory, field and other learning environments.
• develop your ability to evaluate claims based on chemistry through critical analysis of the
methodology, evidence and conclusions both qualitatively and quantitatively.
EXAM BOARD
CCEA
OVERVIEW OF KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUM
At Key Stage 3, Chemistry is taught as part of a general Science programme. Please click here to access the Science Subject Area section of this website for Key Stage 3 information.
OVERVIEW OF KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM
https://ccea.org.uk/key-stage-4/gcse/subjects/gcse-chemistry-2017
Year 11
Unit 1: Structures, Trends, Chemical Reactions, Quantitative Chemistry and Analysis
External written examination: Students answer compulsory structured questions that require short responses, extended writing and calculations. Higher Tier: 1 hour 15 mins
Weighting 35%
Topics covered:
• Atomic structure
• Bonding
• Structures
• Nanoparticles
• Symbols, formulae and equations
• The periodic table
• Quantitative chemistry
• Acids, bases and salts
• Chemical analysis
• Solubility
Year 12
Unit 2: Further Chemical Reactions, Rates and Equilibrium, Calculations and Organic Chemistry
External written examination: Students answer compulsory structured questions that require short responses, extended writing and calculations Higher Tier: 1 hour 30 mins
Weighting 40%
Topics covered:
• Metals and reactivity series
• Redox, rusting and iron
• Rates of reaction
• Reversible reactions
• Organic chemistry
• Quantitative chemistry
• Electrochemistry
• Energy changes in chemistry
• Gas chemistry
Unit 3:
Booklet A Externally marked Students carry out two pre-release practical tasks in the final year of study. Higher Tier: 2 hours
Weighting 7.5%
Booklet B External written examination: Students answer compulsory structured questions that require short responses, extended writing and calculations, all set in apractical context.
Higher Tier: 1 hour
Weighting 17.5%
Overview of Key Stage 5 curriculum
OVERVIEW OF KEY STAGE 5 CURRICULUM
https://ccea.org.uk/post-16/gce/subjects/gce-chemistry-2016
Overview of Key Stage 4 curriculum
Year 11
Unit 1: Structures, Trends, Chemical Reactions, Quantitative Chemistry and Analysis
External written examination: Students answer compulsory structured questions that require short responses, extended writing and calculations. Higher Tier: 1 hour 15 mins
Weighting 35%
Topics covered:
• Atomic structure
• Bonding
• Structures
• Nanoparticles
• Symbols, formulae and equations
• The periodic table
• Quantitative chemistry
• Acids, bases and salts
• Chemical analysis
• Solubility
Year 12
Unit 2: Further Chemical Reactions, Rates and Equilibrium, Calculations and Organic Chemistry
External written examination: Students answer compulsory structured questions that require short responses, extended writing and calculations Higher Tier: 1 hour 30 mins
Weighting 40%
Topics covered:
• Metals and reactivity series
• Redox, rusting and iron
• Rates of reaction
• Reversible reactions
• Organic chemistry
• Quantitative chemistry
• Electrochemistry
• Energy changes in chemistry
• Gas chemistry
Unit 3:
Booklet A Externally marked Students carry out two pre-release practical tasks in the final year of study. Higher Tier: 2 hours
Weighting 7.5%
Booklet B External written examination: Students answer compulsory structured questions that require short responses, extended writing and calculations, all set in apractical context.
Higher Tier: 1 hour
Weighting 17.5%
Overview of Key Stage 5 curriculum
Year 13
AS 1 Basic Concepts in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry
External written examination 1 hour 30 minutes
Multiple choice and structured questions
Topics covered:
• Formulae, equations and amounts of substance
• Atomic structure
• Bonding
• Intermolecular forces
• Structures
• Shapes of molecules
• Redox
• Halogens
• Acid-base titrations
Weighting 40% of AS / 16% of A level
AS 2 Further Physical and Inorganic Chemistry and an Introduction to Organic Chemistry
External written examination 1 hour 30 minutes
Multiple choice and structured questions
Topics covered:
• Formulae and amounts of a substance
• Nomenclature and isomerism in organic compounds
• Alkanes
• Alkenes
• Halogenoalkanes
• Alcohols
• Infrared spectroscopy
• Energetics
• Kinetics
• Equilibrium
• Group II elements and their compounds
Weighting 40% of AS / 16% of A level
AS 3 Basic Practical Chemistry
Practical booklet A – taken in the laboratory 1 hour 15 minutes
Practical booklet B – taken in the examination hall 1 hour 15 minutes
Weighting 20% of AS / 8% of A level
A2 1 Further Physical and Organic Chemistry
External written examination 2 hours
Multiple choice and structured questions
Topics covered:
• Lattice enthalpy
• Enthalpy, entropy and free energy
• Rates of reaction
• Equilibrium
• Acid-base equilibria
• Isomerism
• Aldehydes and ketones
• Carboxylic acids
• Derivatives of carboxylic acids
• Aromatic chemistry
Weighting 40% of A2 / 24% of A level
A2 2 Analytical, Transition Metals, Electrochemistry and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry
External written examination 2 hours
Multiple choice and structured questions
Topics covered:
• Mass Spectrometry
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
• Volumetric Analysis
• Chromatography
• Transition Metals
• Electrode Potentials
• Amines
• Amides
• Amino Acids
• Polymer Chemistry
• Chemistry in Medicine
Weighting 40% of A2 / 24% of A level
A2 3 Further Practical Chemistry
Practical booklet A – taken in the laboratory 1 hour 15 minutes
Practical booklet B – taken in the examination hall 1 hour 15 minutes
Weighting 20% of A2 / 12% of A level
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We provide a range of extension opportunities for our pupils such as:
• The Royal Society of Chemistry Chemistry Olympiad Challenge
• Participating in the QUB ‘Chemistry at Work’ initiative
• The ‘Top Of The Bench’ Challenge
• The Royal Society of Chemistry Windsor Fellowship
