A Level | Chemistry
A Level in Chemistry
Exam Board: OCR
Will the course suit me?
Some of you will need to study Chemistry in order to fulfil entrance requirements for your chosen university courses. Otherwise, if you like practical work, have a curiosity about the world around you or just enjoy chemistry, then this course is worth considering.
Benefits of the course
This course will not only develop your practical and manipulative skills, but also encourages imaginative and critical thinking. It combines well not only with Physics, Biology, Maths and Geography, but also with subjects such as History or English.
Students will be advised of relevant external events that will support their studies and visits may be arranged on appropriate occasions.
Outside the classroom
Visits to Reading University
Day study courses
Chemistry Olympiad
Future opportunities
Chemistry is an obvious choice for those of you wanting to do Medicine or Veterinary courses. Other possible careers, courses or areas of interest include Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Material Engineering, Environmental Research, Pharmacy, Nutrition, Solid State electronics, Nanotechnology, Polymers, Drug design and Genetic research.
A Chemistry degree is good training for a variety of careers, not just in science and engineering. The skills learnt at university are highly transferable and Chemistry graduates often make highly successful accountants, lawyers, politicians and business entrepreneurs.
Course Description
| Module 1 – Development of Practical Skills | This module underpins the whole of the specification, and covers the practical skills that students should develop throughout the course. |
| Module 2 – Foundations in Chemistry | Atoms, compounds, molecules and equations; amount of substance; acid–base and redox reactions; electrons, bonding and structure. |
| Module 3 – Periodic table and Energy | The Periodic Table and periodicity; group 2 and the halogens; qualitative analysis; enthalpy changes; reaction rates and equilibrium. |
| Module 4 – Core Organic Chemistry | Basic concepts; hydrocarbons; alcohols and haloalkanes; organic synthesis; analytical techniques (IR, MS). |
| Module 5 – Physical Chemistry and transition elements | Reaction rates and equilibrium; pH and buffers; enthalpy, entropy and free energy; redox and electrode potentials; transition elements. |
| Module 6 – Organic Chemistry and analysis | Aromatic compounds; carbonyl compounds; carboxylic acids and esters; nitrogen compounds; polymers; organic synthesis; chromatography and spectroscopy (NMR). |
How is this qualification assessed?
| Paper 1 | Assesses the content from Modules 1, 2, 3 and 5 | 2 hours 15 mins | 37% |
| Paper 2 | Assesses the content from Modules 1, 2, 4 and 6 | 2 hours 15 mins | 37% |
| Paper 3 | Assesses the content from Modules 1 to 6 | 1 hour 30 mins | 26% |
Head of Department: Adam Ball