← Chemistry syllabus

Northern IrelandChemistry

Unit 1 Structures, Trends, Chemical Reactions and Analysis

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What are acids and bases, and how do they react to form salts?

Acids, bases and alkalis in terms of hydrogen and hydroxide ions, the pH scale and indicators, neutralisation, and the reactions of acids with metals, oxides, hydroxides and carbonates.
A CCEA GCSE Chemistry answer on acids, bases and salts, covering acids and alkalis in terms of hydrogen and hydroxide ions, the pH scale and indicators, neutralisation, and the four reactions of acids with metals, metal oxides, hydroxides and carbonates.
9 min answer →

How do we prepare a pure, dry sample of a salt?

The solubility rules for salts, preparing a soluble salt from an acid and an insoluble base, and preparing an insoluble salt by precipitation.
A CCEA GCSE Chemistry answer on preparing salts, covering the general solubility rules, the method for making a soluble salt from an acid and an insoluble base by filtration and crystallisation, and the precipitation method for making an insoluble salt.
8 min answer →

How do we use balanced equations to calculate reacting masses?

Using the mole and balanced symbol equations to calculate reacting masses, the conservation of mass, and finding empirical formulae from mass or percentage data.
A CCEA GCSE Chemistry answer on reacting-mass calculations, covering the conservation of mass, how to use the mole and a balanced equation to calculate the mass of a product or reactant, and how to find an empirical formula from masses or percentages.
9 min answer →

How do we count atoms by weighing them using the mole?

Relative formula mass, the mole as a counting unit, the relationship between moles, mass and relative formula mass, and calculating percentage composition by mass.
A CCEA GCSE Chemistry answer on relative formula mass and the mole, covering how to calculate relative formula mass, the meaning of the mole, the equation linking moles, mass and relative formula mass, and how to find the percentage composition of a compound by mass.
9 min answer →

How do we write and balance chemical equations?

Writing chemical formulae from ions, constructing word and balanced symbol equations with state symbols, and writing simple ionic equations for neutralisation and precipitation.
A CCEA GCSE Chemistry answer on chemical formulae and equations, covering how to build formulae from ion charges, write word equations, balance symbol equations with state symbols, and write simple ionic equations for neutralisation and precipitation reactions.
9 min answer →

How do we identify ions and gases in the laboratory?

Qualitative analysis: flame tests and sodium hydroxide tests for metal ions, tests for halide, sulfate and carbonate ions, and the tests for hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and chlorine.
A CCEA GCSE Chemistry answer on qualitative analysis, covering flame tests and sodium hydroxide precipitate tests for metal ions, tests for halide, sulfate and carbonate ions, and the laboratory tests for hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and chlorine gases.
9 min answer →