Overview
A-Level Chemistry
A-Level Chemistry attempts to answer the big question ‘what is the world made of’ and it’s the search for this answer that makes this subject so fascinating.
From investigating how one substance can be changed drastically into another, to researching a new wonder drug to save millions of lives, the opportunities that chemistry provides are endless.
Possible Degree Options
According to bestcourse4me.com, the top five degree courses taken by students who have an A-Level in Chemistry are:
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Pre-clinical medicine
- Mathematics
- Pharmacology
Course Content
Topics Covered
- Foundations in Chemistry
Atoms, compounds, molecules and equations / Acid–base and redox reactions / Amount of substance / Electrons, bonding and structure.
- Periodic table
Group 2 and the halogens / Qualitative analysis / Enthalpy changes / Reaction rates and equilibrium (qualitative).
Core organic chemistry
Basic concepts / Hydrocarbons / Alcohols and haloalkanes / Organic synthesis / Analytical techniques (IR, MS).
- Atomic structure
- Amount of substance
- Bonding
- Energetics
- Kinetics
- Chemical equilibria, Le Chatelier’s principle and Kc
- Oxidation, reduction and redox equations
- Thermodynamics (A-level only)
- Rate equations (A-level only)
- Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems (A-level only)
- Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells (A-level only)
- Acids and bases (A-level only)
- Periodicity
- Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
- Group 7(17), the halogens
- Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides (A-level only)
- Transition metals (A-level only)
- Reactions of ions in aqueous solution (A-level only)
- Introduction to organic chemistry
- Alkanes
- Halogenoalkanes
- Alkenes
- Alcohols
- Organic analysis
- Optical isomerism (A-level only)
- Aldehydes and ketones (A-level only)
- Carboxylic acids and derivatives (A-level only)
- Aromatic chemistry (A-level only)
- Amines (A-level only)
- Polymers (A-level only)
- Amino acids, proteins and DNA (A-level only)
- Organic synthesis (A-level only)
- Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (A-level only)
- Chromatography (A-level only)
Practicals
Chemistry, like all sciences, is a practical subject. Throughout the course you will carry out practical activities including:
- Measuring energy changes in chemical reactions
- Tests for identifying different types of compound
- Different methods for measuring rates of reaction
- Studying electrochemical cells
- Preparation of organic solids and liquids
- An advanced form of chromatography for more accurate results
This is now a requirement and forms part of the Practical Endorsement that is a requirement of A-Level chemistry
Exams
- Paper 1 Relevant physical chemistry topics, Inorganic chemistry, Relevant practical skills, 1 hr 30 mins, Multiple choice / short answer
- Paper 2 Relevant physical chemistry topics, Organic chemistry, Relevant practical skills, 1 hr 30 mins, Structured questions and extended response questions
Careers
Studying an A-Level Chemistry related degree at university gives you all sorts of exciting career options, including:
- Analytical chemist
- Chemical engineer
- Clinical biochemist
- Pharmacologist
- Doctor
- Research scientist (physical sciences)
- Toxicologist
- Chartered certified accountant
- Environmental consultant
- Higher education lecturer
- Patent attorney
- Science writer
- Secondary school teacher