Chemistry

What Will I Learn?

Year 1 (A-level) Topics include: Energetics, Kinetics, Chemical equilibria, Redox equations, Periodicity, Halogenoalkanes, Alcohols, Organic Analysis Year 2 (A-level) Topics include: Thermodynamics, Electrochemical cells, Transition metals, Optical Isomerism, Aldehydes, Ketones, Carboxylic Acids, Aromatic Chemistry, Amines, Polymers, Amino Acids, Organic Synthesis, NMR Spectroscopy, Chromatography.

Why choose Chemistry?

Chemistry is all around us. From the food you eat and the clothes you wear, to the smartphone in your pocket and the car you long to own one day, chemists have played a part in the development of all the things that we rely on in our hectic, modern lifestyle. The chemistry of the body keeps you alive, and controls your mood. The materials developed by chemists allow mankind to go faster, higher and further than ever before. Chemists are problemsolvers. They are constantly striving to develop processes that maintain and improve our lives, whilst also protecting our increasingly limited resources. Chemistry A-level is essential for anyone who wants to pursue a career in Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary studies, Forensic Science, Pharmacy, Biochemistry and Chemical engineering. It also strongly supports applicants wishing to study Physics, Biology, Marine Biology, Environmental Science, Optometry, Geology, Materials, Psychology and Sports Science.

If I am interested in Chemistry I should read:

The Royal Society of Chemistry website will keep you up-to-date with the latest news at www.rsc.org, especially their interactive periodic table. The Royal Institution website www.rigb.org also has the latest news and a number of videos from their series of Christmas lectures. For those interested in the people behind the discoveries, the BBC book ‘Atom’ by Al-Khalili & Bizony, which tells the story of the atom’s discovery, and the scientists who put the pieces together. CGP’s ‘Head Start to A-level Chemistry’ will help to bridge the gap between GCSE and AS-Level.