England · AQAQ&A
ChemistryQ&A by dot point
A short Q&A bank for every England Chemistry syllabus dot point. Each question and answer is drawn directly from our worked dot-point page, so you can scan key concepts before opening the long-form answer.
4.1 Atomic structure and the periodic table
- Atoms, elements and compounds; chemical symbols and formulae; mixtures and the separation techniques used to separate them.3Q&A pairs
- Electronic structure; electrons occupy energy levels (shells); writing electron configurations for the first 20 elements and linking them to the periodic table.3Q&A pairs
- Group 1 (alkali metals), Group 7 (halogens) and Group 0 (noble gases); their properties, reactions and the trends in reactivity down each group, explained by electronic structure.3Q&A pairs
- Metals and non-metals; their positions in the periodic table; the ions they form; the link between electronic structure and reactivity.3Q&A pairs
- The structure of the atom; subatomic particles, their relative charges and masses; atomic number, mass number and isotopes; the development of the model of the atom from plum pudding to nuclear.3Q&A pairs
- The periodic table; arrangement by atomic number into groups and periods; how Mendeleev arranged the early table; metals and non-metals; the development of the table once protons were discovered.3Q&A pairs
4.2 Bonding, structure and the properties of matter
- The three types of chemical bond (ionic, covalent and metallic); when each forms based on the elements involved; the link between bonding and the particles transferred or shared.3Q&A pairs
- Covalent bonding; shared pairs of electrons; small molecules; giant covalent structures such as diamond, graphite and silicon dioxide; and how structure explains properties.3Q&A pairs
- Ionic bonding; the transfer of electrons to form ions; dot and cross diagrams; the giant ionic lattice; and how the structure explains melting points and conductivity.3Q&A pairs
- Metallic bonding; positive ions in a sea of delocalised electrons; the properties of metals; why alloys are harder than pure metals.3Q&A pairs
- Nanoparticles; their sizes compared with atoms and bulk materials; surface area to volume ratio; uses; and the risks and considerations of nanotechnology.3Q&A pairs
- The three states of matter; the particle model; changes of state; state symbols; and the limitations of the particle model.3Q&A pairs
- Linking structure and bonding to properties; the four main structures; allotropes of carbon including graphene and fullerenes; and predicting properties from structure.3Q&A pairs
4.8 Chemical analysis
- Paper chromatography; the mobile and stationary phases; calculating Rf values; and distinguishing pure substances from mixtures.3Q&A pairs
- Purity in chemistry; using melting and boiling points to test purity; the meaning of a formulation; and examples of formulations.3Q&A pairs
- Tests for hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and chlorine; flame tests for metal ions; tests for carbonates, halides and sulfates; and instrumental methods.3Q&A pairs
4.4 Chemical changes
- Electrolysis of molten ionic compounds and aqueous solutions; the products at each electrode; half-equations; and the extraction of aluminium.3Q&A pairs
- Acids, alkalis and the pH scale; neutralisation; reactions of acids with metals, bases, alkalis and carbonates; making soluble salts; strong and weak acids.3Q&A pairs
- The reactivity series; reactions of metals with water and acids; displacement reactions; oxidation and reduction in terms of oxygen and electrons; and extraction of metals by reduction with carbon.3Q&A pairs
4.9 Chemistry of the atmosphere
- Atmospheric pollutants from burning fuels; carbon monoxide, soot, sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen; their sources; and their effects on health and the environment.3Q&A pairs
- The composition of today's atmosphere; how the early atmosphere formed and changed; how oxygen increased; and how carbon dioxide decreased over time.3Q&A pairs
- Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; human activities that increase carbon dioxide and methane; global climate change and its effects; and the carbon footprint.3Q&A pairs
4.5 Energy changes
- Bond energy calculations; energy in to break bonds and out to make bonds; calculating the overall energy change; and linking the sign to exothermic or endothermic.3Q&A pairs
- Exothermic and endothermic reactions; energy transfer to and from the surroundings; everyday examples; and the required practical on temperature changes.3Q&A pairs
- Reaction profiles for exothermic and endothermic reactions; activation energy; and how a catalyst lowers the activation energy.3Q&A pairs
4.7 Organic chemistry
- Alkenes and their general formula; the test for alkenes with bromine water; addition polymerisation; and the difference from alkanes.3Q&A pairs
- Crude oil as a finite resource; hydrocarbons and the alkane homologous series; the general formula; and how properties change with chain length.3Q&A pairs
- Fractional distillation of crude oil; the fractions and their uses; the petrochemical industry; and cracking longer hydrocarbons into useful shorter ones.3Q&A pairs
4.3 Quantitative chemistry
- Amounts of substance in equations; calculating moles from mass; using moles to balance equations and find masses; the mole calculation triangle.3Q&A pairs
- Concentration of solutions in g/dm3 and mol/dm3; converting between them; using concentration in calculations; and titration ideas.3Q&A pairs
- Conservation of mass and balanced symbol equations; relative formula mass; the mole and the Avogadro constant; apparent changes in mass in reactions involving gases.3Q&A pairs
- Reacting masses; using moles to calculate the mass of a product or reactant; limiting reactants; and deducing balanced equations from masses.3Q&A pairs
- Percentage yield; why yields are less than 100 percent; atom economy; and how both are used to judge how efficient and sustainable a reaction is.3Q&A pairs
4.6 The rate and extent of chemical change
- Collision theory; the effects of concentration, pressure, surface area, temperature and catalysts on rate; and how catalysts work.3Q&A pairs
- The rate of reaction; how to measure rate by following mass loss or gas volume; calculating mean rate; and finding the rate at a point from a tangent on a graph.3Q&A pairs
- Reversible reactions; dynamic equilibrium in a closed system; the energy changes of reversible reactions; and Le Chatelier's principle for changes in concentration, temperature and pressure.3Q&A pairs
4.10 Using resources
- Natural and synthetic resources; finite and renewable resources; sustainable development; and extracting metals from low-grade ores by phytomining and bioleaching.3Q&A pairs
- Life cycle assessments; the four stages and their environmental impacts; reducing, reusing and recycling; and the benefits of recycling metals and other materials.3Q&A pairs
- Potable water and pure water; treating fresh water; desalination of sea water; and waste water treatment.3Q&A pairs