Chemistry

This Chemistry course will prepare students heading to study at a higher level, by completing the important topic of Transition metals; introducing them to some topics not met in the A Level syllabus, and encouraging them to consider Chemistry on a wider scale. Emphasis will be on students themselves to discover more about what interests them, rather than what they are told to learn. In the final week, students will be presented with some academic papers, allowing them to discover existing research across a range of subject areas. Chemistry is a broad topic, and there is only time to touch at what other information is out there, so the aim is to inspire students to learn the key skill of independent research, while finding content which appeals to them.

Lesson Outline: For the first three weeks, the final topic of A Level chemistry will be covered, ensuring the full A Level experience for those going on to study Chemistry or Biochemical sciences at university. This will be followed by an extension to the A Level understanding of bonding. The final week will involve almost entirely independent research, as students look at and understand some academic papers.

Week 1: Chemistry of the Transition Elements

Learn about the transition metals in the first row, between calcium and gallium. Discover their distinctive properties such as their bright colours, variable oxidation state and ability to act as a catalyst. Find out about their important uses in removing pollutants from car exhaust, or as cancer treatment drugs.

Week 2: Further Chemistry of the Transition Elements

Concentrating on specific metals, vanadium, chromium, copper and iron, with the opportunity for practical work to explain the role of complexes and ligands in the chemistry of these important elements and of course some amazing colours.

Week 3: Orbitals (principals of chemistry)

This week, the students will investigate the new topic of hybridisation, taking previous knowledge of electrons and orbitals further. The topic of bonding and anti-bonding orbitals will also be approached, as this forms the basis for explaining how and why chemical reactions happen the way they do.

Week 4: Independent Research

This week, students will find one or two research papers of interest to them and aim to summarise it in a short paragraph. The aim of this is to learn what to focus on when broaching a new topic and how to go about retrieving new information efficiently and effectively. Students will be presented with a list of suggested papers, with the ability to choose their own, and will hopefully discover a new and interesting side to research.

Project Outcome: Students will deliver a short presentation during the final week critiquing their chosen research paper.