Chemistry is everywhere in the world around you! It’s in the food you eat, clothes you wear, water you drink, medicines, air, cleaners… you name it. Chemistry sometimes is called the “central science” because it connects to other sciences, such as biology, physics, geology and environmental science. There is something for everyone within the AQA chemistry course. It is split into three major strands – physical, inorganic and organic. Physical chemistry gives an insight into bonding, energy and reactions, linking well to mathematics. Inorganic chemistry looks at trends and properties of elements. Organic chemistry brings in the idea of reaction mechanisms, analysis techniques and functional groups – all based on carbon! There are required practicals built into each of these strands. Each of these has a specific skill focus, such as data analysis, risk assessments or referencing. You will complete twelve required practicals over the two-year course, handing in laboratory write-ups for your teacher to mark. These will need to be up to a sufficient standard so that you achieve a practical endorsement for this course.