|
|
|
ChemistryTSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Subject Guides > Chemistry
CoursesGCSEWhy Study Chemistry?Chemistry happens all around us, it governs who we are. As you understand it more, you can appreciate how much every bit of our lives depends on simple chemical processes - from the crude oil we use to make plastics to the composition of the air we inhale to keep alive. Course FormatChemistry can either be taken as a standalone GCSE or as part of a GCSE in Science - the latter often counts as the equivalent of two qualifications, with the course being made up of one third of each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The Chemistry GCSE aims to give students a basic background into the main principles of chemistry - acid/base reactions, calculations, industrial processes, chemical tests, hydrocarbons and chemistry in the environment. Topics included depend much upon the course and syllabus followed. Many GCSE courses involve a practical assessment which can often be a simple problem regarding, for example, a simple reaction. Here, the student may have to plan an experiment to find the concentration of a reagent, using basic lab equipment. After doing the experiment, they must calculate the answer from the data, draw conclusions and evaluate the reliability of the experiment. Study HelpDiscuss your Chemistry GCSE exam A LevelWhy Study Chemistry?Course StructureThere are several major specifications (or syllabuses) that are taught for Chemistry A Level. For all specifications, the first three units or modules (depending on how the specification labels them) incorporates the whole of the AS; the last three of the six comprise the A2. AQA Module 1: Atomic Structure, bonding and periodicity
Module 2: Foundation physical and inorganic chemsitry
Module 3: Foundation organic chemsitry
Module 4 and 5 are soon to come as part of A2
AS 1: Basic Concepts in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry
A2 2: Analytical, Transition Metals, Electrochemistry and Further Organic Chemistry
A2 3: Internal Assessment (Practical Paper/Skills)
Unit 1: Structure, bonding and main group chemistry
Unit 2: Introductory organic chemistry, energetics, kinetics and equilibrium and applications
Unit 3: Laboratory chemistry Unit 4: Periodicity, quantitative equilibra and functional group chemistry
Unit 5: Transition metals, quantitative kinetics and applied organic chemistry
- 'OCR' (Legacy Syllabus as of year starting 2009) Unit 1: Foundation Chemistry
Unit 2: Chains and Rings
Unit 3: How Far, How Fast?
Unit 4: Chains, Rings and Spectroscopy
Unit 5: Trends and Patterns
-Transition Elements
-Biochemistry -Methods of Analysis Unit 6: Unifying Concepts
The Salters approach divides the A-level up into small teaching modules within the assessed units, setting them into specific contexts. The current specification for 3887/7887 started from June 2004 / January 2005. The reason for the very peculiar order of unit codes in the specification stems from that reform (for most OCR A-level specifications from Curriculum 2000, the 4-digit unit codes have the final number 0, 1, 2; 3, 4, 5). The previous specification had a different Unit 2 for AS, labelled 2851 - Minerals to Medicines, and included the WM teaching module as part of the AS. This was removed from 2851, and the properties of alcohols was moved to teaching module PR, to make 2848 - Chemistry of Natural Resources. The Unit 3 coursework for AS and Unit 6 coursework for A2 also had its marking descriptors modified, but no unit codes were changed. The previous specification also had a different Unit 4 for A2, labelled 2853 - Polymers, Proteins and Steel, which lacked the WM teaching module, but included the effect of complexing on redox reactions in teaching module SS. The former was inserted (except for the work on alcohols' properties) and that piece of the latter was removed to form 2849 - Chemistry of Materials. There were also changes to 2854 - Chemistry by Design (removing the stuff on soils, the structure of silicates and clays and ion exchange equilibria from AA; shifting the factors of ionic size from AA to O), but that did not affect the unit codes. 2850: Chemistry for Life
2848: Chemistry of Natural Resources
2852: Skills for Chemistry
2849: Chemistry of Materials
2854: Chemistry by Design
2855: Individual Investigation (Salters Chemistry)
WJEC - Study HelpCareers/UniversityInternational BaccalaureateScottish Standard GradeStandard grade chemistry is a 2 year course attempted by pupils in S3 and S4. Practical aspects of the course are assessed internally while knowledge and understanding as well as problem solving are assessed externally by means of a national external examination overseen by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The course is divided into the 15 topics: Chemical Reactions , Speed of Reaction, Atoms and the Periodic Table, How Atoms Combine, Fuels, Structures and Reactions of Hydrocarbons, Properties of Substances, Acids and Alkalis, Reactions of Acids, Making Electricity, Metals, Corrosion, Plastics and Synthetic Fibres,Fertilisers, and Carbohydrates. There is usually a test after every 2 topics until topic 11. You need to complete a few pratical assessments in class and then sit the final examination :) Scottish HigherThis is a one year course which covers 3 main topics: Unit 1 – Energy Matters • Reaction Rates • Enthalpy • Patterns in the Periodic Table • Bonding, Structure and Properties • The Mole Unit 2 – The World Of Carbon • Fuels • Nomenclature and Structural Formulae • Reactions of Carbon Compounds • Uses of Carbon Compounds • Polymers • Natural Products Unit 3 – Chemical Reactions • The Chemical Industry • Hess’s Law • Equilibrium • Acids and Bases • Redox Reactions • Nuclear Chemistry Each topic is assessed internally using National Assessment Bank tests. A preliminary examiation is normally held in January with a shorter exam held in late March or early April. The final national SQA examination, is held late May/early June and is marked externally. Higher grade chemistry students regularly access the Scholar programme. This is an on-line learning resource which has been developed by Edinburgh's Heriot Watt University. UniversityThe CourseSee Chemistry Degree [1] ApplyingA-level Chemistry (or it's equivalent) is a requirement. Another science (maths included) is also often required or at least highly recommended/preferred. A few departments (e.g. Imperial, Oxford, Durham) also specify mathematics as a requirement but most other courses cover the mathematical elements needed for the course in the first year. Personal StatementsA list of Chemistry Personal Statements can be found HERE, If you need help with your personal statement then remember you can always pop into the PS helper forum and get advice there. Study HelpRevision notesSWOT Revison - A good website covering AS-Level Chemistry, also has AS-Level Physics. Other InfoDiscussionsAlso SeeHere are all the chemistry articles: Related Subjects: |
|
||||||||||||||||
