Chemistry

Course summary

This is a long-standing, successful subject that routinely attracts a high number of students, who have chosen a diverse range of other subject choices in combination with this one. This is a rigorous A level which develops skills and assets greatly valued by future employers, such as team working, problem-solving, presentation, practical and mathematical skills. It naturally builds on concepts already covered at GCSE, with practical investigation being at the heart of this specification. We follow the AQA Chemistry A level course (7405), providing an excellent foundation in organic, inorganic and physical chemistry that lends itself naturally for a superb preparation to continue studying Chemistry, Natural Sciences, any of the sciences themselves, or a related subject such as Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Biomedical Engineering, or Psychology. It is essential for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Sciences. This also marries well with Law, Economics, Politics, Geology and Architecture to name just a few. Above all else, however, we would like you to study Chemistry because you enjoy it. We love our subject and hope that you will appreciate and enjoy this just as much as we do. Year 12 includes the following topics: Amount of substance, Atomic structure, Bonding, Energetics, Kinetics, Equilibria and Kc, Periodicity, Group 2, Group 7, Organic chemistry (including nomenclature, isomerism, alkanes, halogenoalkanes, alkenes, alcohols, organic analysis). Year 13 includes the following topics: Thermodynamics, Rate equations, Kp, Electrode potentials, Acids and bases, Period 3 properties, Transition metals, Aqueous ions, Further Organic Chemistry (including carbonyl compounds, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, amines, aromatic chemistry, polymers, biochemistry, further organic synthesis to include chromatography and NMR).