Chemistry

Why study Chemistry?

There’s much more to Chemistry than white coats, men with beards, stinky laboratories and explosions.

From the moment you are born, and throughout your life, you are surrounded by Chemistry - the air you breathe, the food you eat and the clothes you wear are just a few examples. Chemistry is the study of substances; what they are made of, how they interact with each other and the role they play in living things. If you have a passion for discovering how things work, using logic and analytical skills, then Chemistry may be the subject for you. A Level Chemistry A Level Chemistry gives you the opportunity to develop your appreciation of the topics that you were taught at GCSE/IGCSE level and a chance to find out about new themes and ideas that may have significant impact on society today. Like all A Level subjects, the two year course will be demanding and rigorous but this should allow you to develop a genuine in-depth understanding of this fascinating science. The specification that we teach at KES is neatly organised into topics with ‘core practicals’ embedded into the teaching. Assessment Paper 1 Advanced Inorganic and Physical Chemistry (30% weighting) Paper 2 Advanced Organic and Physical Chemistry (30% weighting) Paper 3 General and Practical Principles in Chemistry (40% weighting) Science Practical Endorsement (internally assessed and externally moderated) These practicals will cover a variety of experimental techniques and should allow you to gain confidence in your ability to manipulate apparatus and handle hazardous substances.

Topics covered over the two years include: • Atomic Structure • Bonding • Redox • Energetics • Organic Chemistry • Transition Metals • Equilibrium • Kinetics • Analytical Techniques

• Amount of Substance Papers 1 and 2 are topic based. Paper 3 will assess across the whole subject and have a practical focus. The three papers will contain the following types of question: • Multiple choice • Short response (2 or 3 marks) • Extended response (5 marks or more)

Calculations will make up about 20% of the whole A Level assessment. 15-20% of the total marks will be on practical based questions.