
What is it?
A Level Chemistry is the study of the World around us; whilst developing many transferable skills including problem solving, numeracy and a range of laboratory skills, it will provide answers to questions such as “Why is water a liquid at room temperature?” and “Why are highlighter pens so bright?”
Why study this subject at Blackpool Sixth?
Excellent teaching and learning. You will have the opportunity to enter competitions run by the Royal Society of chemistry and Cambridge university and you may get the opportunity to represent the College at the School’s analyst competitions run throughout the UK. Chemistry is a very highly respected A level and is compulsory for anyone wishing to pursue medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses.
What skills will I develop?
In addition to developing your skills in chemistry, as part of the learning you will also develop the following skills: time management, team working, organisation, listening, communication, numeracy and research.
How will I be taught?
You will be provided with online booklets for each topic. In addition to this you will be asked to: complete individual and group work activities to enable you to develop your understanding.
How will I be assessed?
You will complete exercises to develop your understanding further and train you to answer the examination questions using past exam paper questions in yoru homework. You will have regular in class tests and key assessments to ensure you have understood a topic and attend support sessions to help in your learning. Carry out practical chemistry tasks to meet the endorsement and prepare you fully for the written examinations.
Teacher expertise
Your teaching team comprises of very experienced A level teachers who have research experience and are current examiners or verifiers.
Field trips, projects and employability opportunities
There is a Christmas lecture to end the year with a bang. Many students chose to apply for Science Club or Medical Society. We maintain good links with University chemistry departments and trips are run to allow students to experience working in university laboratories.
Where does it lead?
Chemistry students progress to a wide range of courses, including medicine, dentistry and veterinary studies. Many students chose to study chemistry and have gone on to prestigious universities.
Equipment
You must have a scientific calculator, we strongly recommend the Casio fx-83GTX
Examination board
AQA.
Specific Requirements
- Grade 5 in GCSE Maths plus grade 6 and 5 from GCSE Combined Science (higher tier), or grade 6 in GCSE Chemistry. We strongly advise you to take another science or maths with A Level Chemistry.
What will I study?
- Physical chemistry
- Atomic structure
- Amount of substance
- Bonding Energetics
- Chemical equilibria
- Oxidation, reduction and redox equations
- Thermodynamics
- Rate equations
- Organic chemistry
- Alkanes
- Halogenoalkanes
- Alkenes
- Alcohols
- Aldehydes and ketones
- Carboxylic acids and derivatives
- Aromatic chemistry
- Amines, amino acids, proteins and DNA
- Polymers
- Organic synthesis and analysis
- Inorganic chemistry
- Periodicity
- Group 2 and Group 7
- Period 3
- Transition metals
- Ions in aqueous solution